Norman Williamson could face over a week on the sidelines after sustaining torn ligaments in his left knee at Chepstow yesterday. Williamson's day started in style when winning the first division of the Stirrup Cup Novices' Hurdle aboard Bad Bertrich but he later missed out on a treble due to the injury as he had been booked to ride winners Hazaaf and Gran Turismo.
The jockey was injured when his mount, Riot Leader, took a crashing fall in the second race on the card, the Caffrey's Irish Ale Novices' Handicap Chase, and though able to eventually walk away from the incident, Williamson was brought back in an ambulance.
"They say it can be very sore and it could take a few days to come right," explained Williamson.
"Hopefully I could be back for Stratford on Friday but at the moment I don't know as the knee is very painful.
The Richard Hannon-trained Tadwiga, winner of the Goffs Challenge at the Curragh last June, will return to the Curragh for Sunday week's Airlie Coolmore Irish 1,000 Guineas.
"The plan is to run but I need it soft for her," said trainer Richard Hannon.
Dermot Weld, who won the 1,000 Guineas in 1982 and 1988, is considering supplementing Idle Rich for the race while John Oxx hopes to run both Winona and Golden Cat.
