MICHAEL TEBBUTT will be out of action for a couple of months after his boss Brian Meehan confirmed the jockey has fractured a bone in his spine. Tebbutt was flown by helicopter to Odstock Hospital in Salisbury after injuring his back in a fall on the Lambourn Downs on Wednesday.
It was thought Tebbutt had broken a bone, and Meehan confirmed yesterday: "Michael has fractured a vertebra and he will be laid out for a week or two and off for a couple of months. He is going to stay in hospital and basically he will stay on his back for a little while.
"You can imagine how he feels. He has some nice horses to ride here and we will really get started in the next couple of months.
"The specialist said that it won't affect the rest of his life, so it is bad that he is going to be out but in a sense he has been lucky. And he has got the horses to ride when he comes back."
Tebbutt was due to partner Tomba for Meehan in the Listed Prix Djebel at Maisons Laffitte today. The ride will now be taken by Richard Hughes.
Meanwhile Criquette Head gives leading Pertemps 1,000 Guineas hope Pas de Reponse her prep race for Newmarket in the Listed Prix Imprudence at the same track. Taking on the Cheveley Park Stakes winner, quoted at 8 to 1 for the first fillies' Classic by William Hill, in the seven furlong event are Psylla, Imia and Barnata.
∙ Tomorrow's meeting at Newton Abbot has been given the go ahead following an inspection yesterday. Patches of hard ground put the fixture in jeopardy but the track was passed fit for racing after being watered.
A spokesman for the track said: "Following an inspection by the chairman of the stewards and Jockey Club inspectorate Richard Linley the course was deemed fit for racing and the going is firm, good to firm in places watering."
∙ Rambo Waltzer shrugged off a medical thumbs down to demonstrate his customary toughness at Hamilton Park yesterday. Trainer David Nicholls had no complaints when a deal to sell the gelding to America last week was called off after an unfavourable vet's report.
Tackling the Calder Apprentice Series Handicap, Rambo Waltzer was produced fast and late by Carolyn Bales to catch Gadge near the line for a short head verdict with the same distance back to Mels Baby.
While he waits for his new boss Henry Cecil to unleash his big guns, Kieren Fallon is content to ply his trade at the smaller tracks. His visit to Scotland was well worthwhile as he secured a double, courtesy of Foist and Filey Brigg.
Foist, backed down to 5 to 2 after being available at 7 to 2 in the offices, justified the gamble when defeating Return Of Amin by two and a half lengths.
Bookmakers retrieved some of their cash when Finley Brigg overturned odds on Risky Whisky in the Dunwan Novice Median Auction Stakes. Filey Brigg has twice: finished third after being unplaced in the Brocklesby Stakes at Doncaster on the opening day of the turf season.
Neville Callaghan on the mark with his only previous runner at Hamilton in the last five seasons struck when Purchasing Power defeated market rival Step N Go in the Springfield Rating Related Maiden Stakes. The colt, a 190,000 guineas purchase, was carrying the colours of Michael Tabor who owns the leading Derby contender Entrepreneur.
