JOCKEY Gina Andrews ‘isn’t going to look pretty for a few days’ after her horror Cheltenham fall.
The amateur rider fell off Haafapiece at the last flight and was rushed to hospital after being kicked in the face by a horse behind during nasty scenes at Cheltenham yesterday.
Andrews, 28, was kept at Royal Gloucester Hospital overnight but was at least ‘moving and talking’ in the ambulance on the way there.
Her sister Bridget, who was also competing during The International meet at the famed racecourse, wanted to go with Gina to hospital but could not due to coronavirus restrictions.
After riding Mohaayed to third in the final race, she delivered an update on her sister’s condition.
She said: “Gina looked a bit of a mess when she left but she was talking.
“It’s pretty rubbish that I wasn’t able to go with her but her husband has gone to the hospital and will hopefully be able to see her.
“She isn’t going to look pretty for a few days but, fingers crossed, it’s superficial.”
A tweet from the Twitter account Gina shares with husband Tom Ellis said last night: “Thanks to everyone for their well wishes for Gina today after her horrible fall at Cheltenham, she is OK but is staying in hospital tonight.
“Massive thank you to all the staff and medics at Cheltenham Races and NHS UK for looking after her #getwellsoon.”
Andrews was in the lead on 18-1 Haafapiece when going over the last jump in the 12.40 Catesby Handicap Hurdle over 2m 1f.
But disaster struck when she was unseated, sent crashing to the floor, and kicked in the face by 7-1 chance Nordic Combined as he went past.
Fortunately, Haafapiece galloped away from the incident unhurt and no other horses or jockeys were hurt.
Thanks to everyone for their well wishes for Gina today after her horrible fall at Cheltenham, she is okay but is staying in hospital tonight. Massive thank you to all the staff and medics at @CheltenhamRaces and @NHSuk for looking after her
#getwellsoon
— Gina & Tom Ellis Racing (@GandTRacing) December 11, 2020
A Cheltenham statement read: “Following a fall in the 12.40 Catebsy Handicap Hurdle on board Haafapiece, jockey Gina Andrews was immediately attended to by the on-course medical team. She is conscious and has now been transported to Royal Gloucester Hospital.
“Further information will be provided by the hospital or parties nominated on her behalf. The racecourse team would like to express our best wishes to Gina, and our thoughts are with her and her family.”
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