RACING at Fakenham was delayed for over an hour after Stop This Train fell and was stuck on top of his jockey in the Greene King Handicap Chase.

The Sarah Humphreys-trained seven-year-old had to be anesthetised by vets so that rider Niall Houlihan could be freed from underneath the injured horse.

The 14-1 shot came down at the final fence and Irishman Houlihan, 24, became trapped.

Incredibly, he only suffered a few bumps and bruises following his fall, while the horse was walked into a horse ambulance once he’d come round to be taken off for further treatment.

Houlihan was stood down from his remaining rides, with Dylan Whelan taking his place aboard Jolyjump in the 3.45 and Sean Quinlan riding Jigginstown King in the Norfolk National.

There was a lengthy delay while medics and vets attended the incident, with the 3.45 race eventually going off at 4.30pm.

The Greene King Handicap Chase was won by Kankin, ridden by Bryan Carver, with Noah’s Light second.

Stop This Train’s fall comes just a week after the death of a ‘horse of a lifetime’ Sire Du Berlais and his fellow warrior Kilbeg King at Punchestown Festival.

Three-time Cheltenham Festival winner Sire Du Berlais, 12, sadly went wrong in the Grade 1 Champion Stayers’ Hurdle.

While Anthony Honeyball’s nine-year-old Kilbeg King was pulled up with a fatal injury in the very next race.

Owner Gordon Elliott said ‘everyone’s in bits’ after learning of the passing of two-time Pertemps and 2023 Stayers’ Hurdle king Sire Du Berlais.

He said: “Absolutely heartbroken.

“He’s been the horse of a lifetime for us at Cullentra and everyone is in bits over there, the girls and the lads in Ireland.

“He’s been unbelievable so we are all gutted. All thoughts to JP, Noreen and the whole family.

“It takes the gloss off the whole week to be honest – I’m heartbroken.

“He was just the horse of a lifetime, you couldn’t write what he’s done for us. He always wore his heart on his sleeve, a great horse.”