Winning and losing put into perspective by fallen few

An unmistakable air of sobriety descended on the Cheltenham Festival towards the end of ‘St Patrick’s Thursday’ when news emerged that amateur jockey JT McNamara was airlifted to Frenchay Hospital in Bristol after suffering a serious injury.

The 37-year-old from Croom in Limerick, who hails from well-known racing stock, was treated trackside by paramedics after his horse Galaxy Mount took a tumble during the Fulke Walwyn Muir Challenge Cup late on in the card.

Racing was delayed for almost half-an-hour while the amateur rider was transferred from the venue and it was reported later that McNamara had been placed into an induced coma before being taken to the regional spinal unit.