ADRIAN MAGUIRE could miss the Cheltenham Festival for the second year in a row after damaging his knee at Leicester yesterday. The leading jockey was involved in a horrific four-horse pile-up in the opening race.

He was forced to miss the big meeting 12 months ago after the death of his mother Phyllis, and this year's Festival is only seven weeks away.

Maguire's mount Boss's Bank crashed at the third flight in the first division of the Croxton Park Novices' Hurdle, bringing down three other horses.

The Meathman appeared to be kicked in the left leg by a flailing hoof as he crashed to the ground. He was taken to the Leicester Royal Infirmary for treatment before being discharged.

The hospital would not release exact details of the injury. "All we can say is that he has hurt his knee and at the moment he won't be able ride for six weeks," said hospital spokeswoman Angela Watts.

Maguire was picked up from the hospital by jockey Mick Fitzgerald, who said the 24-year-old hoped to be back in time for Cheltenham.

"Adrian is comfortable and has had his knee strapped," said Fitzgerald. "He has been told to let it settle down for two or three days before going for a further examination.

"It looks like he has chipped a bone and he seems to have a bit of ligament trouble too."

But Fitzgerald was optimistic that Maguire would be back on the track in four weeks. "It certainly won't be an end-of-the-sea- son job," he said, and added that Maguire would be more upset by the news that Boss's Bank - winner of his two previous races - had to be destroyed.

This is the third major injury setback the unlucky Maguire has suffered within the past year. Last April he broke his elbow in a fall from Desert Tiger, an injury that effectively ended his changes of winning last year's title.

His championship chances were dealt a devastating blow this season after he broke his ankle when Hatcham Boy slipped up on the flat at Ascot in November.

Maguire was just beginning to put his disappointments behind him - he moved onto the 51- mark with a treble at Warwick on Monday - when disaster struck again.

The highly-rated Boss's Bank had jumped badly at the first two flights before hitting the third and giving Maguire no chance of staying in the saddle.

With the field clustered closely together, mayhem resulted and three horses - Divertimiento, Wayfarers Way and Worth The Wait - were all brought down.

Boss's Bank suffered broken ribs and internal injuries after being kicked in the face.

"It's not been a good day. This was a promising horse but his condition worsened after the race and the vet said there was nothing else he could do," said Alan King, assistant to the horse's trainer, David Nicholson.