Parade ring accident rules out Franny Norton

Franny Norton has suffered a suspected broken leg (Getty Images)

Franny Norton was taken to hospital with a suspected broken leg after suffering a fall leaving the parade ring at Leicester today.

The jockey had just been given the leg-up on Princess Tamay prior to the Rancliffe Selling Stakes when the filly reared up. Leicester's clerk of the course, Jimmy Stevenson said: "Franny fell off the back of the horse, which reared up and landed on his leg. It looks as though he's broken it. They were just on the chute leaving the parade ring when it happened. He's been taken to Leicester Royal Infirmary."

Princess Tamay was withdrawn from the race and there was a delay to racing as officials awaited the return of the ambulance.

Meanwhile, Doncaster's clerk of the course Roderick Duncan is anticipating "substantial showers" ahead of the start of the four-day St Leger meeting this afternoon. The official going at the Town Moor circuit remained good following a relatively dry day, but there could be an ease in conditions before racing gets under way.

Lightly-raced Viztoria is set to take her chance in the OLBG Park Stakes at Doncaster on Saturday.

The Eddie Lynam-trained filly has raced just five times in her career to date, winning three of those outings. She has run twice this season, winning a Group Three at the Curragh in June before finishing a respectable sixth to Sky Lantern in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Lynam said: "More than likely she will run at Doncaster and Wayne Lordan will ride.

"She's been off for a while simply because she hasn't had her ground. She'll enjoy the seven furlongs, and any further rain would obviously be a big help. We wouldn't be running her if the word firm is in the ground description."

Viztoria is also in the Renaissance Stakes at the Curragh on the same afternoon, as is stablemate Balmont Mast. Lynam said: "A lot can happen between now and Saturday and, depending on where Viztoria runs, Balmont Mast will probably run at the Curragh."