James Bowen was taken to hospital after an incident in the novices' handicap chase. He was leading at the last fence when the Nicky Henderson-trained Laughing John fell

Top jockey James Bowen has been taken to hospital after his horse fell at the final fence in a race at Bangor.

The sportsman held a three-length lead on the Nicky Henderson-trained Laughing John when the pair parted company in the Mount Vines Novices' Handicap Chase.

Bowen landed heavily on the turf after the 3-1 favourite shortened into the jump and tripped, as Col Du Pre, the mount of Charlie Deutsch, fell independently.

Just Golden, ridden by Harry Skelton, was badly hampered but recovered strongly to take second behind 11-1 chance They Want Me, who completed a quickfire double for Donald McCain and Theo Gillard.

Joebottles, from the stable of Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero, sadly suffered a fatal fall at the third obstacle and there was a subsequent delay to the rest of the card.

*It was married with several incidents that's why there has been a delay here," said Sky Sports Racing presenter Zoey Bird. "I'm afraid to say Joeybottles sustained a fatal injury, (his jockey) Jack Tudor walked back in.

"Col De Pre was down for a while and laughing jon was just winded. James Bowen was taken to hospital with a suspected fractured wrist."

If scans confirm the injury for Bowen, the younger brother of champion jockey Sean, he is expected to be out of action for several weeks.

He has ridden 25 winners in the current jockeys championship, which began in May, two months after he celebrated his first Cheltenham Festival success on another Henderson horse Holloway Queen in the National Hunt Novices' Handicap Chase.

Bowen, a former champion conditional from the weighing room, also teamed up with stable flagbearer Jonbon in the 2026 Clarence House Chase at Ascot.

In April, the race-riding brothers dead-heated in a race at the Perth Festival, the second time they had shared the honours.