Mania to have precautionary scan

Grand National-winning rider Ryan Mania was detained overnight and will have a precautionary MRI scan on Monday following his crashing fall at Hexham, his agent said last night.

Mania, 23, was taken by air ambulance to hospital in Newcastle following the fall on his return to action after winning the National on the Sue Smith-trained Auroras Encore at Aintree on Saturday.

The Scotsman was linking up once again with Bingley-based Smith in the St John Lee Handicap Hurdle.

However, his mount Stagecoach Jasper came down early on the final circuit.

Trainer Tina Jackson, who was standing near the hurdle where Stagecoach Jasper fell, said: “The horse seemed to jump it okay but then stumbled and fell and looked to give him a nasty kick.”

One of the first on the scene was photographer Ann Grossick, who said: “He was on the ground and I told him to lie still and the doctor would soon be here. He said ‘yeah, yeah’ and within seconds the doctor arrived.”

Some 25 minutes after the race Mania was still being attended to on the track by medics. With the covers up, there was a delay to racing following the arrival of the air ambulance.

Mania was conscious following the fall and was put into the air ambulance on a spinal board before being taken to Newcastle Royal Victoria Infirmary for further assessment.

His agent, Bruce Jeffrey, tweeted: “News regarding national hunt jockey Ryan Mania, he will detained overnight for precautionary MRI scan tomorrow morning. Will update tomorrow.

“Ryan and his family appreciate all the kind wishes and would like to thank you all very much.”

Paul Struthers, chief executive of the Professional Jockeys Association, tweeted: “@Mania450 is in hospital with friends and family. He’s awaiting scan results. Fingers crossed not as bad as first feared. He thanks everyone for their well wishes. Further updates when we have them. £getwellsoon.”

Mania received what appeared to be a kick between his shoulder blades and was described as very sore before going for further assessment on neck and back injuries. He was reported to be in a stable condition.

Clerk of the course James Armstrong confirmed Mania had been conscious and talking after the fall.

He added: “Hopefully all will be fine, but we won’t have any more news until later.

“His agent and his partner are with him. I know that he’s had some scans and they are waiting for the results but there’s no news more than that at the moment.”

The Great North Air Ambulance confirmed its aircraft based at Penrith, in Cumbria, attended and took the jockey to hospital in Newcastle with a flight time of just eight minutes.

A spokesman said: “One of the Great North Air Ambulance helicopters, The Pride of Cumbria, was called to assist the North East Ambulance Service with a jockey who had fallen from a horse whilst racing at Hexham.

“The jockey was initially treated by a race doctor and ambulance crew on scene, before being assessed and treated by the aircrew doctor and paramedic and then flown to hospital.” He said the casualty had back and neck injuries which were assessed as “severe/serious” but he said his condition on arrival at hospital was described as stable.