A decision on whether a beleaguered Sam Thomas keeps the ride on champion chaser Master Minded in Saturday's Seasons Holidays Tingle Creek at Sandown will be made later this week.
Thomas, who has endured a miserable fortnight since stepping into the shoes of the injured Ruby Walsh on a host of high-profile horses, gave up his mounts at Leicester on Sunday.
Paul Nicholls' number two jockey could not have suffered more contrasting fortunes to 12 months ago when he partnered Kauto Star to victory in the Betfair Chase, Mr Pointment in the Becher Chase and Denman in the Hennessy Gold Cup.
This year he hit the deck in the Betfair and Hennessy while Mr Pointment stopped to a walk in the Becher Chase before being rousted again to finish second.
Master Minded is the highest-rated chaser in training following his stunning performance in the Queen Mother Champion Chase in March but the only time Thomas has ridden him he was unseated when the five-year-old made his British debut last December.
However Master Minded's owner Clive Smith, who also owns Kauto Star, is refusing to make a rash decision.
‘I have spoken to Paul (Nicholls) very briefly and we agreed to sit back and think about it. Then we will discuss the situation on Tuesday or Wednesday,’ Smith told the Daily Telegraph.
‘There are a lot of issues involved. Maybe it is a case of Sam just having a run of bad luck. But we also have to consider the horse himself.
‘There are one or two other jockeys around. I won't mention any names because it only creates speculation in the press.’
