11 gravity-defying racing recoveries

Thurles 14-2-08 Andy McNamara Performs A Miracle To Stay On Board QUERIDO After A Bad Mistake AT The 6th FDEnce In The Horse & Jockey Steeplechase Tom Ryan Was Not As Lucky As He Parted Company From ITS OVER. Photo Healy Racing / Racingfotos.com THIS IMAGE IS SOURCED FROM AND MUST BE BYLINED "RACINGFOTOS.COM"

(Image credit: PAT HEALY)

Fast and furious, these racing recoveries will have you covering your eyes. Hold on tight...

According to statistics, National Hunt jockeys will average one fall in every 16 races. Riders on the Flat don’t quite face the same fate but the occasional slip-up is not unusual.

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11 gravity-defying racing recoveries

1. Heavenly Brook does his best to get rid of Robbie Colgan at Gowran Park

2. Ruby Walsh (pictured left), riding alongside the 20-time champion jockey AP McCoy, performs a superhero manoeuvre to stay on Reisk Superman at Fairyhouse to finish third

3. Tom Cannon makes an impressive recovery at Plumpton before going on to win aboard In The Jungle

4. Shane Jackson gets tipped out of the saddle but clings onto The Joker after the fifth fence at Kilbeggan

5. Teacht An Earraig ducks out on the home run before winning at Leopardstown, while jockey Danny Mullins does well to stay in the plate

6. Keep your eye on the grey horse in this race at Galway — the jockey performs some miracle acrobatics to remain on top

7. Andy McNamara holds on for all he’s worth after coming out the side door during a race at Thurles — somehow the jockey manages to get himself back in the saddle

8. Adrian Joyce adopts an unorthodox position aboard Klassy at Limerick

9. Jockey Rajiv Maragh sits tight after his horse stumbles coming out of the gates at Belmont Park in New York

video courtesy of NYRA

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11. Tom O’Brien manages to stay balanced after his mount, Or Bleu, pecks on landing

Don’t miss our 13-page National Hunt special in today’s issue of Horse & Hound magazine (3 November 2016), where we find out what makes Thistlecrack just so good, plus who the jockeys, horses and trainers to watch this season are.