Horse crashes through barrier at Cheltenham in scenes fans have ‘never seen’

Favourite Corbetts Cross smashed into a barrier at the Cheltenham Festival on Friday to leave punters in agony – but luckily the horse and jockey escaped without serious injury.

With Mark Walsh riding the six-year old in the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle on the final day of the festival, they went in as the betting leader ahead of Three Card Brag.

Having run a powerful race and been in the mix with the chasing pack, the horse didn't spot the barrier that stood alongside the final jump going into the finish line.

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In scary scenes, Corbetts Cross caught the barrier almost head on with Walsh falling to the turf with Stay Away Fay taking the glory ahead of Affordale Fury.

One fan wrote: "I have never seen a horse run into a barrier course it’s the one my moneys on." A second said: "Sums up my cheltenham, cheers Corbetts Cross."

A third punter posted: "If that Corbetts Cross run doesn’t sum up my week then I don’t know what will." A fourth agreed: "Was on Corbetts Cross. Absolutely sickened. Definitely had a great chance of winning."

Had you backed Corbetts Cross in the Albert Bartlett? Tell us in the comments section below.

With Corbetts Cross seemingly unharmed, Walsh held his arm and was then withdrawn from riding Minella Indo in the Gold Cup with Nico de Boinville stepping in.

ITV host Ed Chamberlin said that Walsh 'didn't look great', having only recently returned from an injury before getting on the saddle this week at Cheltenham.

Stay Away Fay came in as an 18-1 outsider, with 28-1 Sandor Clegane in third before the aforementioned 150-1 Affordale Fury.

Trainer Paul Nicholls said of winning jockey Harry Cobden: "Harry rode him great today. He was good and positive.

"He's a very smart young horse. He's going to improve for a summer. I knew he'd win turning in because he's a very strong stayer. He wasn't going to stop."

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