Rachael Blackmore to miss rides at Cheltenham after schooling fall

Rachael Blackmore will miss her intended book of rides at Cheltenham over the coming days as she recovers from a fall while schooling on Wednesday.

The Cheltenham Gold Cup and Grand National-winning rider had been due to partner two leading fancies at Prestbury Park on Friday, including recent Listed winner She Is Electric for Irish trainer Norman Lee in the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle (2.45). She was also pencilled in to ride the Henry de Bromhead-trained Champagne Gold in the 888Sport Novices' Limited Handicap Chase (3.20).

Blackmore expects to be back in action next week, an indication that the injury is not thought to be serious.

She missed out on a double at Thurles as a result of being stood down on Thursday, with her intended mounts Secret She Keeps and Still Ciel collecting for De Bromhead at 8-15 and 4-6 respectively.

Speaking after Secret She Keeps won the opener under Mark Walsh, De Bromhead said: "It's a pity for Rachael, but she just got a bang while schooling yesterday. She'll be out for a few days."

Darragh O'Keeffe: will step in for Rachael BlackmoreCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Darragh O'Keeffe, who deputised for Blackmore on Still Ciel, has come in for the ride on Champagne Gold on Friday, while he will also take over on exciting Listowel harvest festival winner Life In The Park in Saturday's Jim Wilson Memorial Novices' Chase (4.25).

Sam Ewing steps in to ride the Tom Gibney-trained Story Rory in the Pertemps Qualifier (3.50) on Saturday. No replacement jockey has been nominated for She Is Electric, who will be one of two runners for Lee, who is having his first representatives at Cheltenham.

The trainer said: "She Is Electric is a lovely mare and we were delighted with her winning last time at Gowran. She seems to have come out of that well. This looks like a good novice hurdle, but we're hoping she runs a nice race."

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