Photographer Pat Healy is recovering at home after suffering only minor injuries in a nasty incident at Navan on Sunday.

Thatsy and Entoucas fought out a thrilling finish to the opening www.navanracecourse.ie Maiden Hurdle, with the pair coming close together on the run to the line after negotiating the final hurdle.

While Thatsy just edged in front to win, Entoucas crashed through the inside railing just after the post – colliding with the photographer, who was stationed nearby.

Healy was taken to Blanchardstown Hospital by ambulance for further examination, but was discharged on Sunday evening.

His sister, Cathy, said: “He was back home in his own bed for 9pm last night – he wouldn’t stay in hospital any longer! He’s not broken anything. He’s obviously bruised and sore, but it’s the best possible outcome from what was a bad situation.

“It’s a miracle really and he’s already saying he’ll be back racing in Fairyhouse this weekend, but we’ll see. There’s nothing wrong with his camera finger, thank God!”

Entoucas and rider Mark Walsh escaped serious injury, with the jockey reporting his mount had dived at the gap in the railing just after the line.

NO INTERFERENCE

Walsh told the stewards that his mount did not receive any contact or intimidation from Thatsy and that his mount is a quirky individual who took a look at the gap in the railings at the finishing line and broke through the running rails for no apparent reason.

Clerk of the course Paddy Graffin added that the gap in the railings is standard and is necessary to accommodate photo finishes.

The Stewards were satisfied that there was no fault with the layout of the course, that there was no breach of raceday rules and that both riders were blameless. However, due to the gravity of the incident, the Stewards referred the matter to the CEO of the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board

for further investigation.