NORMAN WILLIAMSON was released from hospital blast night, hours after a horrible fall at Leopardstown left the Mallow-born jockey with a broken bone in his right hand.
Riding Arctic Buck in the Kilgobbin Beginners Chase, Williamson was racing in second place when Arctic Buck fell at the eighth, the fence going away from the stands. Two of the following horses, Collon and Veredarius, had no room to avoid the stricken partnership and Williamson was kicked in the face.
Williamson initially lost consciousness but had recovered by the time Turf Club medical officer Walter Halley reached the scene and the jockey was rushed to hospital by ambulance, with a police motorcycle escort. Arctic Buck broke his back in the fall and was put down.
The horse's trainer, Tom Taffee, rushed to the scene and said: "It was a horrible fall and it doesn't look pretty. There is a lot of blood on Norman's face. But it looks to be coming from a cut on his forehead. Hopefully it won't be that bad."
Williamson had faced six to eight weeks on the sidelines but after x-rays were taken the prognosis was less grim. However, he still faces a race against time to be fit for the Aintree Martell Grand National meeting.
It is the latest in a series of injuries that have plagued Williamson in the last 18 months. In October 1995, he broke his leg in a fall at Sedgefield and on the day he returned, he dislocated his shoulder at Newbury in January. However, riding as a freelance this season, Williamson's career had been on an upswing and he tasted Cheltenham success with Commanche Court in last week's Triumph Hurdle.
Richard Dunwoody went on to win yesterday's race on Shisoma for Wexford trainer Patrick Day, but it was the man who dominated last week's Cheltenham festival, Tony McCoy, who took the most valuable race of the day, the Harcourt Handicap Hurdle.
The Champion Hurdle Gold Cup double confirmed McCoy's position at the top of one of the toughest of all professions, but the drive and determination that propelled the 22-year-old there in such a short time was in full view yesterday.
Clifdon Fog looked to be niggled at down the back straight, but McCoy produced him in the straight to lead at the last and then hold off Kilcoo Boy.
Trainer Jim Bolger, who McCoy spent four years with as a flat apprentice, said: "Tony has always known that success doesn't come easy and knuckled down from the word go when he was with me. We only booked him for the ride on Saturday and was very enthusiastic about coming over.
Charlie Swan notched up a double in the first two races, although those who made Moscow Express favourite to win the Careysfort Hurdle were made to sweat until the last few strides, as Mr Baxter Basics looked the likely winner for much of the race.
The Crazy Bishop could be sent to Don caster Sales at the end of the month and he put in a good advertisement by making most of the running to win the Silchester Handicap Chase.
Aidan O'Brien added to Moscow Express's with Cloone Bridge in the bumper, but is already preparing the first of his 90-strong flat string for the summer. He expects to run one of his three entries in the Brocklesby Stakes for two-year-olds at Doncaster on Thursday.
O'Brien's and Swan's hopes of completing a treble with Bawnrock in the Cabinteely Maiden Hurdle were foiled by Chatterbuck, but the race turned out worse for owner-trainer jockey Michael Quinlan, who finished fourth on Sail Away Sailor.
The stewards considered the course had been used as a training ground and fined Quinlan £400. They also banned him for 21 days for making insufficient effort in the race and banned Sail Away Sailor from racing for 30 days.
