Cheltenham Festival

Leading amateur jockey JT McNamara is reported to be in a "stable condition" following surgery on the serious neck injury he sustained at Cheltenham on Thursday. The 37-year-old was injured in a first-fence fall and was airlifted to hospital after being treated by the on-course medics.

Conscious following the fall according to officials at the track, the leading amateur rider was put in an induced coma before his transfer to Frenchay Hospital in Bristol. McNamara underwent surgery on fractured vertebrae yesterday.

The Cheltenham Festival ended today with its high point - The Gold Cup.

It was won by a horse owned by a group of friends. They paid £20,000 for Bob's Worth. He raced away with a first prize of nearly a third of a million pounds.

Karen Griggs reports on a wet day at the races for the thousands of race-goers:

Bobs Worth has won the Gold Cup at Cheltenham

1 Bobs Worth (B J Geraghty) 11-4 Fav

2 Sir Des Champs (A P McCoy) 4-1

3 Long Run (Mr S Waley-Cohen) 7-2

4 The Giant Bolster 16-1

Veteran racing pundit John McCririck will have to watch today's Cheltenham Gold Cup race on television after being released from hospital.

McCririck, 72, known for his distinctive sideburns and deerstalker hat, is convalescing at home after being detained in Cheltenham General Hospital.

He complained of feeling unwell during the first day of the Cheltenham Festival on Tuesday and was taken to hospital by ambulance.

The former Channel 4 pundit had said earlier this week that he planned on returning to Prestbury Park to watch the highlight of the four-day national hunt festival.

But after being released from hospital he has returned home to recover.

Mr McCririck's agent Patsy Martin said today: "John is resting today.

"He is not going racing today and the next race meeting he will be attending will be Doncaster on Saturday week."

A jockey remains in Bristol's Frenchay Hospital after being injured when his horse fell at the Cheltenham Festival. JT McNamara was put in an induced coma after being airlifted off the course yesterday afternoon.

A jockey from Dorset won a race at the Cheltenham Festival. Joe Tizzard came first in the Ryanair Chase on Cue Card. The horse is trained by his father Colin Tizzard at their stables in Milborne Port near Sherborne.

The uncle of JT McNamara, who is also a trainer has spoken about the jockey's condition.

David Pipe's horse Matuhi has become the first fatality of this year's Cheltenham Festival. The Somerset trainer's horse fell at the final fence in the Byrne Group Plate. Matuhi was put down due to major spinal injury.

JT McNamara has been airlifted to Frenchay Hospital in Bristol after being injured in a fall at the Cheltenham Festival. The renowned amateur rider was partnering Galaxy Rock for trainer Jonjo O'Neill in the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup when the pair crashed out at the first fence.