There was huge drama in the Albert Bartlett Novice’s hurdle as favourite Corbett’s Cross ran out before jumping the last fence.
A recent purchase by JP McManus, Corbett’s Cross was vying for the lead when he opted to run into the rails rather than jump the last fence.
His jockey Mark Walsh is only just back in the saddle, having fractured vertebrae in his neck after a fall at the Dublin Racing Festival.
He took a nasty fall again here and while he did appear to be holding his arm, he was up and walking about afterwards, as was the horse.
He wasn’t well enough to take his ride on Minella Indo in the Gold Cup however, and was replaced by Nico De Boinville for the 3.30 showpiece.
Honest as ever, Ruby Walsh said Walsh wasn’t without blame for the incident, pointing out that he should have had his whip in his right hand rather than his left, so as to steer the horse away from the rails.
“He should have had his whip in the other hand, because you’re giving the horse the opportunity. As a rider, you have to remove that opportunity and unfortunately he didn’t.”
You can watch the bizarre incident here.
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Meanwhile, Stay Away Fay went onto win the race at 18/1 to give English trainer Paul Nicholls his second win of the meeting. At 150/1, Affordable Fury was second for Meath trainer Noel Meade while at 28/1, Sandor Clegane finished in third in the race for Wexford trainer Paul Nolan.
