There was chaos in Downpatrick on Ladies' Day as the first race of the day saw as many as eight horses run loose among the field after a faller at the first hurdle caused havoc.
The first of the day was the two mile, three furlong maiden hurdle and it could not have ran off in a more disastrous fashion; eight of the 15 runners were out of contention at the first.
Mac's Xpress was sitting in third towards the outside on the run-up to the first but overjumped and gradually stumbled and fell a couple of yards after the fence, bringing down seven horses behind him.
READ MORE: GAA Top 50: The most influential figures in the history of the organisation ranked
Nonbinding, Bookem Danno, Diliymi, Great Island, Lily Bianca, Television and Nailed Down all fell foul to the initial mistake from Mac's Xpress and their riders had no further part to play in the race.
Riders Jack Kennedy, Jordan Gainford and James O'Sullivan were pulled out of the action for the rest of the day, but incredibly the horses who left them behind in the pile-up came away unharmed and all among them carried on to see out the race without the presence of a jockey.
The Colm Murphy-trained King Kal ultimately triumphed under Brian Hayes, who went on to claim the race on a six length margin over Duleek Street.
Hayes and King Kal did have another brush with trouble as they came around to the problematic fence for the second time on the circuit, but they managed to avoid a loose horse as they passed the fence and ultimately it turned out to be a routine ending to a race which had had the most chaotic of beginnings.
Speaking after the race, jockey Hayes was relieved.
He said: "It was eventful but the race just fell apart. We'll take it.
"The loose horse didn't do us any favours crossing the top but we survived it."
READ NEXT:
Rory McIlroy ready to party but says prospect of LIV golfers at Wentworth is 'hard to stomach'
Phil Mickelson ‘deserves forgiveness’ over Saudi comments as LIV rebels told to cut ‘BS’
AFL legend Nathan Buckley fires out 'buyer beware' warning for Tyrone's Conor McKenna
Runar Hauge warns Shamrock Rovers of Gent’s strength as his brother plots their European downfall
Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email alerts
