Hide In Stable Condition

Philip Hide was last night reported to be in a 'stable' condition after receiving treatment for a fractured pelvis and head injury sustained in a fall at Cheltenham.

The jockey was thrown into the running rail after his mount, Hatch A Plan, stumbled on landing and fell at the first in the Letheby And Christopher Novices' Handicap Hurdle.

While he had initially been lucid, Hide's condition later worsened in the racecourse's medical centre and he was rushed to nearby Cheltenham General Hospital by ambulance.

Following treatment for his injuries, the rider's state had improved once again, however, and the head injury is not thought to be too serious.

Speaking last night, racecourse medical officer Dr Sue Smith said: 'Philip is stable. He has fractured his pelvis and has a head injury, but the CT scan was normal. That means that the head injury is less serious than first thought.

'As a result, Philip does not need an operation on his head and therefore the prognosis is optimistic.'

Smith was with Hide at Cheltenham and in the hospital's accident and emergency department last night, and added: 'Philip's condition got worse on the racecourse and a decision was made to put him to sleep for his own safety and to protect his head.

'He was then taken to Cheltenham General Hospital, where he will stay, either in the hospital's trauma wing or high dependency unit.

'The x-rays and scans on Philip's pelvis will need to be looked at by a pelvic surgeon before a decision is made as to whether the pelvis needs surgery or just the normal 12 weeks' recovery,' she told the Racing Post.

(C) PA Sport