Amateur jockey Lewis Ferguson walked away after a violent fall while leading the John Dufosee Memorial Open Hunters' Chase at Wincanton race course.

Riding Merrion Square, Ferguson was approaching the final jump of the race when he was unseated, appearing to dismount as the horse leapt the fence. The jockey hit the top of the fence with his chest and was flipped in a complete somersault, narrowly avoiding a landing on his neck.

As Coombe Hill won the chase medical staff hurried to help Ferguson but he stood up and walked off the course unaided.

The 18-year-old jockey, reported to be riding in only his fifth professional race, said later on his Twitter account that he was fine apart from "a bit sore head."

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