Tom Marquand rushed to hospital as punters say ‘I never expected that’ after shocking pre-race incident

TOM MARQUAND has been rushed to hospital after being kicked in the arm by a horse just moments before a race.

The top class jockey, husband of Hollie Doyle, was on his way down to the start of the first race at Newmarket when Forca Timao kicked out.

Marquand could be seen recoiling in pain as he rode Waipiro, with the horse subsequently withdrawn.

Racing TV presenter Angus McNae confirmed Marquand – who has not long returned from a shoulder operation – had gone to hospital.

Punters watching on TV couldn’t believe what they had witnessed.

One said: “Never expected that.”

While another wrote: “Horrendous luck for Tom Marquand. Kicked in the arm and off to hospital.”

One comment read: “Poor Tom Marquand. Bet that was a massive ouch.”

Marquand suffered a nasty fall when racing in Australia three months ago.

He had to go under the knife to fix his shoulder after being the victim of ‘severe interference’ in the big-money Inglis Millennium race.

Explaining the injury, Marquand said: “My shoulder had basically dislocated backwards, so I have to go for an operation to get it wired back in.”

He was joined in recovery by his wife, who was nursing further complications from a nasty elbow injury.

Marquand said at the time: “Hollie is having a bit of a shocker as well.

“We will be in rehab and recuperation together and be a right pair. At least we’ve got two arms between us.”