Cooper badly winded by Naas fall Bryan Cooper is expected to be fit for the start of the Cheltenham Festival on Tuesday after emerging relatively unscathed from a crunching fall at Naas. The number one rider for the powerful Gigginstown House Stud operation was thrown to the ground when leader Allied Victory came to grief in the Sunday Market At Naas Racecourse Maiden Hurdle, and although rising to his feet, he was assessed for some moments by paramedics. He missed the ride on Folsom Blue in the subsequent Leinster National, but no serious injuries were reported. The Turf Club's senior medical officer Dr Adrian McGoldrick said: "Bryan was badly winded, but I can't find anything clinically wrong with him. He had a soft tissue injury on his forehead, just from the force of his helmet. "He is flying out tonight to Cheltenham, so he will have to be passed by the doctor at the course on Tuesday." Paul Carberry was also in the wars, suffering a couple of falls, but he too is set to be back for the opening day of the showpiece National Hunt meeting. Dr McGoldrick said: "Paul is fine, he was stood down just as a precaution. He has a slight ankle ligament strain, but nothing to worry about and he'll see me in the morning." There was a further blow to Carberry as Gallant Oscar, his intended mount in the Leinster National, triumphed under supersub Danny Mullins.
