Hector Crouch escapes serious injury but missing winning ride proves painful

Hector Crouch left Brighton for precautionary X-rays after a crashing fall but admitted to feeling more pain from missing the winning ride in the feature race on the opening afternoon of the track's three-day summer festival.

Crouch, who has been in terrific form of late, was towards the lead aboard Opera Buffa in the Wainwright Selling Handicap when coming to grief around four furlongs from home on the top bend.

An inquiry into the incident found the fall was caused by the rider's right foot slipping out of the iron, causing him to become unbalanced.

Crouch was stood down, meaning the mount on the Gary Moore-trained Lord Clenaghcastle in the £20,000 Hobgoblin Brighton Mile Challenge Trophy Handicap went to Shane Kelly.

Crouch said: "I am fine, I have just got to have a precautionary X-ray on my right elbow.

"My foot slipped and it was just one of those things which was a bit unfortunate.

"Watching him (Lord Clenaghcastle) win hurt more than the fall."