Market favorite Corbetts Cross narrowly avoided serious injury in the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival when he swerved off course and crashed into the outer poles of the final fence, dismounting jockey Mark Walsh.

Going well as the horses entered the final straight, Corbetts Cross appeared to be traveling ably with Stay Away Fay ahead of him by a few lengths.

However, approaching the final fence from a tight angle from the inside rail, Corbetts Cross opted to try and go around the hurdle and as such crashed into the inside fence.

With the fences plastic these days, both horse and jockey, fortunately, avoided serious injury, but it was an indication of the dangers and perils of national hunt racing.

Walsh fell off his mount and appeared to be in some pain, though swiftly rose from the ground, though he was holding his arm as he conversed with his owner and trainer after the race.

The accident afforded to Stay Away Fay, a 20-1 shot, a chance to hold off the other contenders and did so just about.

Walsh had been due to ride Minella Indo in the Gold Cup at 3:30 but was replaced by Nico de Boinville.

Affordale Fury secured second place and Sandor Clegane came in third.