Harrison rushed to hospital after horror fall at Sha Tin

Jockey David Harrison was taken to hospital last night with suspected neck, back and shoulder injuries following a horrific fall from My Chief in the final race at Sha Tin. The Welshman, who lay motionless until the ambulance crew arrived after the incident, was conscious as he left the racecourse in a neck brace and initial indications suggested he had sustained a fracture to his shoulder or upper arm. But later reports said doctors were carrying out further tests on Harrison's neck and back to assess the possibility of more serious damage.

Harrison was accompanied to the Prince Of Wales Hospital by his wife Abby, and a Jockey Club spokesman said: 'He was conscious in the ambulance and breathing normally, but a neck brace was fitted as a precaution. He was complaining of severe pain in his upper right arm, which is believed to have been fractured.'

The fall occurred shortly after the start of the 1,200-metre race when the Bruce Hutchison-trained My Chief, who was among the backmarkers, appeared to clip the heels of at least one preceding horse. Harrison was thrown from his mount and lost his helmet, though it was unclear if it left his head before he hit the ground.

The incident took the gloss off an exciting win by the Geoff Lane-trained Grandioso which completed a four-timer for champion jockey-elect Douglas Whyte. An inquiry into the incident was adjourned by the stewards, who also postponed another hearing into the fifth race involving a check to Harrison's mount, Scenic Star, at the 800-metre mark.

Meanwhile, Simon Yim was given a three-meeting suspension for careless riding in the fourth race. The stewards found that Yim's mount Century Star had shifted in on eventual winner Desert Storm, who was ridden by Whyte, at about the 800-metre mark.

John Egan was also given a three-meeting suspension for careless riding aboard Millennium Spirit at an inquiry adjourned from last week's Happy Valley meeting. Both Egan and Yim will begin their suspensions after Sunday's meeting at Sha Tin and will be back for the final fixture of the season on June 17.