Positive bulletin on Bryan as x-rays reveal no broken bones from Chelmsford fall

Apprentice rider Josh Bryan has had something of a lucky escape after unseating from his mount Hidden Stash in the closing handicap at Chelmsford on Thursday evening, emerging with a broken nose and bad bruising on his wrist and ribs.

Bryan, who was riding the William Stone-trained three-year-old for the first time, was in the front rank when becoming unbalanced early in the straight and ending up with both legs on the same side of the horse. After falling, he was trampled by other runners and received treatment on the track.

Chelmsford's clerk of the course Andy Waitt reported on Thursday evening that Bryan had been taken to Broomfield Hospital. On Friday he added: "I was with Josh in the hospital until about 1.30am. They did some x-rays and found no broken bones aside from his nose, but he hurt his wrist quite badly and was wearing a support on that. He was discharged in the early hours.

"It's just a great relief for everyone, because it looked like it could have been so much worse."

Bryan sent a tweet just after 1.30am, with an accompanying picture of his strapped-up wrist, which said: "Broken nose and badly bruised wrist bone and ribs, but I'm alive and well! Thank you for all the support #bebacksoon #racingupsanddowns."

Bryan, who is apprenticed to Hidden Stash's former trainer Andrew Balding, has ridden 37 winners in total, 30 of them this year, including three times on the somewhat tricky Rolling Maul for Peter Bowen.

Hidden Stash, who has been ridden by claimers on most of his recent starts, galloped on seemingly unscathed after the incident. The race was won by the Brendan Powell-trained Mr Andros.

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