Irish jockey JT McNamara was airlifted to hospital with a serious neck injury after a fall at the Cheltenham Festival on Thursday.

Dr Adrian McGoldrick, chief medical officer of the Irish Turf Club, said the 37-year-old amateur jockey was placed in a medically-induced coma and taken by helicopter to Frenchay Hospital in Bristol.

"JT has suffered a serious neck injury," McGoldrick said later. "He is being looked after at the regional spinal unit but as yet he is still waiting for a scan.

"We will know far more in the morning when hopefully he will have had his scan."

The rider came off Galaxy Rock following a fall at the first fence in the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Chase, the next-to-last race of the festival's third day.

The Frenchay Hospital has a specialist centre for head injuries.

Earlier Thursday, racehorse Matuhi was destroyed after suffering a serious spinal injury in a fall at the last fence in the Byrne Group Plate.

The events overshadowed a day on which Solwhit seized on the absence of four-time winner Big Buck's to roar to victory in the World Hurdle, capping a miserable day for the favourites.