Terrifying moment out of control horse comes inches from crashing into rivals in heart-stopping Cheltenham race

AN out-of-control horse almost collided with the main field in a heart-stopping moment at Cheltenham.

Another fun day of Festival action saw Delta Work secure victory in the 16.10 Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase.

“Down to the last look at Delta Work, two ears pricked on the approach, absolutely flies it.” @Ruby_Walsh #ITVRacing |@donoghue_keith | @gelliott_racing pic.twitter.com/5pfrwcfNz4

— ITV Racing (@itvracing) March 15, 2023

ITVSnow Leopardess narrowly avoiding crashing into rogue horse Gin on Lime[/caption]

ReutersJockey Rachael Blackmore fell off Gin on Lime[/caption]

But there was a terrifying moment early in as a horse without a jockey flew across the path of the frontrunners.

ITV footage shows the view from jockey Aidan Coleman as he rides aboard Snow Leopardess.

They are in the lead but are almost wiped out as a horse charging in the path of the racers flashes past them.

Gin on Lime is the loose horse with jockey Rachael Blackmore having been dismounted.

Her horse ends up being only a few meters ahead of Snow Leopardess as the pair narrowly avoid a collision shortly after Coleman cleared a fence.

It would not be the last piece of drama in the race.

Jockey Ricky Doyle was left clinging on to his horse Foxy Jacks and just managed to stop himself falling.

The Irishman could be seen dangling down the side of the horse and only managing to recover after a few heart-stopping seconds.

Delta Work would go on to win the race as trainer Gordon Elliott won the Cheltenham Festival cross-country feature for the fifth time in seven years.

The horse was the favourite on most markets and jockey Keith Donoghue was able to steer Delta Work through the 32 obstacles.