Sport

Sound Man cruises home

JAMIE OSBORNE was ruled out for 21 days with concussion following an horrific fall at Ascot yesterday

Thu Feb 15 1996 - 00:00

JAMIE OSBORNE was ruled out for 21 days with concussion following an horrific fall at Ascot yesterday. He was forced to stand down by the racecourse medical officer until the week before the Cheltenham Festival, having been knocked out by the exit of Coulton during the Comet Chase, won by Sound Man.

Osborne was left flattened on the ground for several minutes before he was loaded into an ambulance and taken to hospital, but he is not believed to have broken any bones.

Coulton had led the field to the fifth last fence where he went head over heels and threw Osborne to the ground. Racecourse medical officer, Dr Norman Gordon reported: "He has no apparent limb injury. But was knocked unconscious and is signed off for 21 days."

Sound Man hardened to 7 to 4 favourite for the Queen Mother Champion Chase after the Irish challenger was left to secure a bloodless 14 lengths victory from Easy Buck.

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But despite his impressive record of five successive wins, Edward O'Grady is by no means confident of adding to his fine Cheltenham record with victory over Strong Platinum and Viking Flagship.

"Strong Platinum beat us twice last year and I don't see why we should turn the tables but we will try," said the trainer.

"I think my horse has improved but there is nothing to suggest Strong Platinum hasn't either. But Sound Man is the best chaser I've had and he'll run at Cheltenham regardless of the ground."

Until the accident Osborne had ridden two winners, one on Mole Board in the Levy Board Hurdle and the other on Seekin Cash in the Shenley Enterprises Hurdle.

Mr Mulligan will attempt a feat not even One Man could achieve after annihilating a classy field to land the £25,000 Reynoldstown Novices Chase. He underlined his outstanding credentials for the Sun Alliance Chase when making all the running to defeat Naththen Lad by 15 lengths with an extra seven pounds on his back.

The performance resulted in his Cheltenham odds tumbling to 2 to 1 favourite with William Hill while Ladbrokes were sufficiently impressed to quote him at 14 to 1 for next year's Gold Cup.