Apprentice jockey Rhys Elliott suffers punctured lung and small neck and spine fractures in Newcastle fall

Apprentice jockey Rhys Elliott has suffered a punctured lung as well as some small fractures to his neck and spine following a fall at Newcastle on Tuesday evening.

The claimer was riding the 100-30 favourite Masterpainter in the mile handicap for Michael Dods. Masterpainter led for the most of the race but was short of room when starting to fade with just over a furlong to go and came down.

The final race on the card was delayed while Elliott was attended to by the racecourse medics before being transported to Royal Victoria Infirmary hospital in Newcastle.

Speaking on Wednesday morning, his agent Paul Brierley said: "Rhys has a punctured lung and small fractures to his neck and spine after his fall at Newcastle last night. Rhys would like to thank all of the medical team at the racecourse and the RVI. 

"He also wants to pass his big thanks for his messages from everyone and I'll be visiting him later on."

Elliott has picked up 15 winners this year, during which he completed a unique feat when dead-heating twice in the space of a week in the summer.

Tuesday's incident at Newcastle was reviewed by the stewards, but it was deemed to have been accidental.

The stewards' report said: "Rhys Elliott, the rider of Masterpainter, had fallen approaching the final furlong. Rowan Scott, the rider of Whatwouldyouknow, and Ben Sanderson, the rider of Mr Heinz, were interviewed and shown recordings of the incident. 

"It was found that the incident was accidental and was caused by Mr Heinz shifting marginally right-handed, causing a weakening Masterpainter to be moved slightly off its intended line thus giving a bump to Whatwouldyouknow, causing the gelding to become unbalanced and shifted left-handed, which in turn, moved Masterpainter back behind Mr Heinz. It then resulted in Masterpainter appearing to clip a heel, stumble and fall."

In a social media post, Dods confirmed Masterpainter was okay after the fall and passed on best wishes to Elliott from all of his team.

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