JOCKEY Sam Thomas has been ruled out of next week's Cheltenham Festival.

The 2008 Gold Cup-winning rider suffered cracked vertebrae in a fall on the gallops at Paul Nicholls' yard yesterday.

Trainer Tom George, for whom Thomas rides as stable jockey, said: "I haven't spoken to Sam directly, but I've spoken to his father who is with him and he will not be riding at Cheltenham next week.

"He has suffered a crack to a vertebrae high up in his neck, but it is not as bad as first feared and he is able to walk, talk and move his hands and feet.

"It's obviously disappointing that he will miss Cheltenham, but the news is largely positive and his injuries will heal with time."

Thomas enjoyed his biggest success so far aboard Denman in the Gold Cup two years ago.

His best rides next week were set to include Tricky Trickster for Nicholls in the Gold Cup and George's Tell Massini in the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle.