Willy Twiston-Davies suffers back injury in Cheltenham Festival fall

Willy Twiston-Davies has broken two vertebrae in a fall on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival.The jockey parted company with Foxtail Hill in the Close Brothers Novices' Handicap Chase, the final event of the day, but initially appeared to be have escaped serious harm as he walked into the ambulance.However, subsequent checks at Gloucester Royal Hospital showed Twiston-Davies has suffered a more severe injury than first thought.He said: "They (the scans) are not good, I have broken my T8 and T9 in my back. I have got the experts coming to see me now."Twiston-Davies' brother and fellow rider Sam is expecting further news on Wednesday morning.He tweeted: " Just left Willy in hospital, he's in good spirits but fractures to his T8 & 9 and some cracked ribs! Will know more in the morning."