SIX horses fell at the first jump in this action-packed race at Roscommon.
Jockeys were strewn over the track following the disastrous first-flight mayhem during a hurdle race at the Irish course.
But amazingly, the jockeys and horses were reported to be OK afterwards, with all miraculously escaping serious injury.
Pictures show the jaw-dropping moment all hell broke loose in the first during the 1m7½f Maiden Hurdle for three-year-olds on Tuesday.
Four horses were brought down, another officially ‘fell’ and one rider was unseated.
Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Jack Kennedy looked to be the first to go down when he fell on 7-2 Alice Kitty.
A domino effect followed with 4-1 Stand Staunch, 10-1 Admiral Brown, 100-1 Bullock Park and 150-1 Dies Its Eine all being brought down.
Simon Torrens was also unseated on 200-1 outsider Annwyl Angharad.
The damage didn’t stop there.
Jody McGarvey said 16-1 Mystery Show was pulled up shortly after, after being badly hampered in the chaos, the same as 150-1 Guest.
A loose horse then interfered with Helvic Princess late on, causing the horse to slip up.
Just seven of the 16 starters actually finished the race, which was won by 10-1 Whyzzat.
Speaking after the win, jockey Shane Mulcahy addressed the ‘carnage’ caused by the first-flight debacle.
He said: “He was very free early on and I actually thought we were going too quick. They went a nice gallop to the first.
“It was probably a blessing in disguise that he was free because I was able to get ahead.
“I actually didn’t realise until I came back around on the second circuit that there was so much carnage.
“A loose horse joined him coming out of the back straight and that lit him up again. In fairness he stayed galloping and did it well.”
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