While Day 4 of Cheltenham Festival 2023 will be remembered for Paul Townend's magisterial ride on Galopin des Champs to win a memorable Gold Cup, it wasn't the only drama on the day.
The previous race, the Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle, was arguably more dramatic.
Corbetts Cross was a popular pick for punters at 11/4 and looked poised to challenge for the race. However, when heading into the final hurdle, the horse lost its nerve, and tried to step around the jump. It ended up smashing into fence and threw jockey Mark Walsh into the wing of the hurdle.
🚨 HUGE drama in the Albert Bartlett!
Corbetts Cross runs out at the last with Stay Away Fay staying on best to land the G1 Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle to strike for @CobdenHarry & @PFNicholls #CheltenhamFestival pic.twitter.com/Db10x0z4Pd— Racing TV (@RacingTV) March 17, 2023
This camera angle proves just how unusual the incident was: Corbetts Cross's face hit the fence straight-on, and Walsh was thrown to the ground.
#CheltenhamFestival | #VMTVRacing pic.twitter.com/jS7cXJVu9d
— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) March 17, 2023
While doing ITV analysis, Ruby Walsh said that Mark Walsh (no relation) was partly to blame for the incident because he had the whip in his left hand which forced the horse to the right.
Walsh was stood down and gave up his Gold Cup ride on Minella Indo. Amazingly and thankfully, it appears he didn't suffer any serious injuries in the fall.
Mark Walsh on Corbetts Cross falls at the last fence in The Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle Race during day four, Gold Cup Day, of the Cheltenham Festival 2023. 📸 @sammellishphoto / @GettyImages pic.twitter.com/UwufqtHGBq
— Ian Hinchliffe (@ianpiced) March 17, 2023
Heartbreak there for Corbetts Cross. Walked into fence just as the gas started cooking. Gutted.
— Harry Cole (@MrHarryCole) March 17, 2023
It's another disappointing injury setback for Walsh, who was hospitalised at the Dublin Racing Festival after a bad fall, and still was triumphant yesterday on Sire Du Berlais in the Stayers Hurdle
The race was won by Stay Away Fay, who was 18/1 to win the race. Victorious jockey Harry Cobden praised the horse on Racing TV.
"He's very inexperienced, he's only run a couple of times and he was very very green but he's winged the last and just pulled up in front a bit. I thought he was there to be caught but put his head down and stayed galloping."
🚨 HUGE drama in the Albert Bartlett!
Corbetts Cross runs out at the last with Stay Away Fay staying on best to land the G1 Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle to strike for @CobdenHarry & @PFNicholls #CheltenhamFestival pic.twitter.com/Db10x0z4Pd— Racing TV (@RacingTV) March 17, 2023
