THIS is the incredible moment jockey Thomas Willmott showed ‘balls of steel’ with a brilliant recovery from a near-certain fall.
The jockey was aboard 18-1 shot Emirat De Catana in the 2.30 at Musselburgh on New Year’s Day.
Trailing along at the back of the field having been pushed along after the 12th fence, you would have forgiven Willmott for wanting to call it a day then.
But he showed almost superhuman levels of balance and skill to remain on the horse after the 13th.
With a totally skewwhiff jump, Willmott is flung high into the air, holding onto the reins with his left hand only.
It looks for all the world like the rider will fall to the floor but he wraps his arms around the horse’s neck.
With his feet totally out of position and his body contorted all over the place, Willmott somehow manages to right himself as the Lucinda Russell-trained runner keeps charging on.
There was not to be a second miraculous recovery though, as the horse was eased and finally finished last.
Not that that mattered to the fans blown away by Willmott’s unbelievable save.
One said: “Saw it live and still can’t believe it happened.”
Another wrote: “How has he managed that? Astonishing.”
One comment read: “Outrageous. Unbelievable from the jockey.”
A fellow fan posted: “Jeez, he needs to audition for the next role as Spider-Man.”
One Twitter user wrote: “Goodness, must have been a magnet.”
Another said: “Thomas Willmott channeling his inner Iron Man with an incredible recovery. Balls of steel.”
While a fellow viewer wrote: “Circus skills! And I love how the good Emirat goes on galloping straight and true whilst the acrobatics take place on his back.”
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