Robert Thornton to miss Cheltenham Festival after finding that his 'bruises' are broken bones But now Thornton, who had been due to ride, among others, Smad Place in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle next week, will miss his first Cheltenham Festival in 18 years as a jockey after finding out that he had actually broken his arm and three vertebrae. Alan King's first jockey, who was leading rider at the 2007 Festival with four winners and has ridden 16 winners there in all, including Katchit in the Champion Hurdle and Voy Por Ustedes in the Champion Chase, will miss the rest of the season. Admitting, like many jockeys do, that he had tried to "pull the wool over doctors" eyes," Thornton took himself to hospital in Cheltenham on Monday night for an X-ray which showed a new fracture in a part of his arm which was already plated. Scans on his back on Tuesday revealed the damage - described as "minor" fractures - to his vertebrae. "All you're thinking about at this time of year is Cheltenham, Cheltenham, Cheltenham," the bitterly disappointed jockey said. You just hope and pray something like that is no worse than a bruise and I went late at night so I wouldn't have to queue in A&E. Having slipped out of his regular slot in the top half dozen jockeys, a Festival winner could have transformed Thornton's season, which has netted only 36 winners so far, a below-par score by his standards. King said he was "absolutely gutted." The stable's second jockey, Wayne Hutchinson, will take the rides, which also include Balder Success, Raya Star and Walkon. The trainer rates Godsmejudge, in the John Oaksey National Hunt Chase for amateur riders, as one of his best chances. Smad Place's chances of improving on his third in last year's World Hurdle are improving as the ground dries out and were further aided by the news that the third favourite Monksland is likely to miss the race. The 5-1 shot suffered a setback on Tuesday. "It's not career threatening," his trainer Noel Meade said, "and I wouldn't rule him out for the season, but it is highly unlikely he will go to Cheltenham next week."