Lucky escape for McCoy

Tony McCoy had a lucky escape at Hereford when he was involved in a four-horse pile-up in the Back And Lay At WBX.com Handicap Chase.

With the Cheltenham Festival only two weeks away, McCoy found himself at the bottom of a nasty-looking melee.

The champion jockey was riding Inaro for his boss JP McManus when he fell at the seventh fence, bringing down Tom Doyle on Marked Man, Sam Thomas on Sarin and Tom O’Brien on Bee Hawk.

None of the four jockeys sustained serious injuries, although Doyle was reportedly unconscious for a short spell.

Clerk of the course Gemma Charrington said: “Sam Thomas got up and walked away, Tony McCoy was battered and bruised, but essentially OK. Both Tom O’Brien and Tom Doyle have facial injuries and have lost teeth and are being checked over by the doctor.

“Tom Doyle was definitely knocked unconscious, but I’m not sure if Tom O’Brien was.”

On an eventful afternoon, Lorna Brooke was handed a 10-day ban following the WBX.com £25 New Account Free Bet Novices’ Chase when the stewards ruled she had stopped riding aboard Supreme Marque, losing third place.

The days are to be notified to her at a later date.