"It's a hard blow to take" - Injury rules Adam Wedge out of Cheltenham Festival

Adam Wedge insists he will be cheering for Silver Streak as loudly as anyone in next week’s Unibet Champion Hurdle after being ruled out of the Cheltenham Festival due to injury.

Wedge steered the Evan Williams-trained grey to Grade One glory in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton on Boxing Day and had been looking forward to renewing the partnership in the feature event at Prestbury Park on Tuesday.

However, the Welshman was unseated at the final flight when riding Hoi Polloi at Newbury on Friday – and while he took up four rides at the Berkshire track the following afternoon, a scan on Monday morning revealed he had sustained a fracture to his T12 vertebra.

Wedge, who won the Stayers’ Hurdle aboard Lisnagar Oscar at last year’s Festival, said: “It’s a hard blow to take, but it’s the way it is.

“I’m going to be out of action for a few weeks, but the injury has felt a lot better in the last couple of days now I’ve started to rest. I could have been in a much worse position that is for sure.

“I was very sore after the fall and I rode again at Newbury on Saturday as I didn’t realise it was going to be as bed as it has turned out.

“I’ll definitely be watching the Cheltenham Festival next week. I won’t be able to forget that I should have been riding there, but I kind of think that I’m not the first and I won’t be the last person to miss the Cheltenham Festival because of an injury.

“I’m lucky that everything is OK and I have a good boss who I know will ensure that I still have good horses that I will get the rides back on when I come back. It is a hard pill to swallow, but it is part of the game unfortunately.

“Getting back for Aintree would be the plan. It obviously depends on how things heal, but I would love to get back for Aintree if possible. I will also be at Oaksey House three or four days a week and when I’m not there I will be rehabbing at home.

“Oaksey House is a fantastic facility. Credit to the Injured Jockeys’ Fund who do so much to help jockeys’ and get them back to race riding as quick as possible.

“I have some gym equipment at home and I’ll also be getting in the ice chamber which is just down the road for me so I will be getting in there two or three times a week.”

Wedge, speaking exclusively to SBK Sportsbook, said: “I think the team are very confident going into the Champion Hurdle with Silver Streak. It is the best he has gone into Cheltenham. I think he is going to run a massive race. He has run well at Cheltenham before and I would be hopeful that he would put up a massive display.

“Silver Streak is an out and out two-miler who will appreciate it if they go a strong pace. It was fantastic to see Silver Streak win the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton. He has been a stable star for Evan and all the team and it was well-deserved.

“I think Honeysuckle is the one to beat based on her form and I think if you forget about Goshen’s run in the International Hurdle, you have to think he would go close too.

“He beat Song For Someone by 22 lengths at Wincanton and we were only just a nose behind that horse in the International Hurdle. I think it will be a very competitive Champion Hurdle.”

“It was fantastic to see Lisnagar Oscar a run a good, solid race when second in the Rendlesham at Haydock after his wind operation. I think this is his time of year and I really think he will thrive through the spring now.

“There was obviously an issue with Paisley Park last year in the race, but Linsagar Oscar will be right behind him watching his every move and I think if Paisley Park and Thyme Hill turn up, they are both going to be very tough to beat.

Wedge now faces a race against time to ride at Aintree next month, where his potential mounts include Randox Grand National contender Secret Reprieve, who could bid to follow up his Welsh Grand National success in the world’s most famous steeplechase.

He added: “The doctors reckon I could be back in around a month.

“I’m looking at being back for Aintree, if it’s possible. That’s the aim.

“Secret Reprieve seems very well at home. He is doing everything the right way, had a nice break after the Welsh Grand National and has come out of Chepstow in A1 condition. I think touch wood, it will be all systems go for the Grand National with him.”