“avoidable accident” states Sports Analyst in Freddie Tylicki case

Freddie Tylicki hearing – Sports Analyst gives evidence that this was an “avoidable accident”.

Sky sports analyst, Jim McGrath, has given evidence in the trial of Freddy Tylicki who is suing Graham Gibbons for £6m in respect of life changing injuries sustained at the 2016 Kempton Race.

McGrath stated that the fall that led to Tylicki becoming paralysed “could easily have been avoided” and said that the stewards on the day should have found Gibbons guilty of dangerous riding for “riding in a way that was far below the standard of a competent and careful rider”. Stewards at the time had said that the collision, which saw four jockeys in total hit the ground was “an accident”.

As a result of the collision, Tylicki had to be airlifted to hospital and was found to have a spinal cord injury which has left him a permanent wheelchair user.

Gibbons denies causation and negligence; his defence is that the fall was a “racing accident occasioned by the horses coming together”.  Patrick Lawrence, QC, acting for Gibbons said to Jim McGrath  “This was no more than a racing incident and your evidence that the stewards should have found dangerous riding is without any foundation at all,” . McGrath’s response to this statement was “Absolute rubbish”, continuing I don’t think there is any question that Mr Gibbons had the opportunity to correct his horse” and “….to me it was a completely avoidable accident.”

Although Lawrence suggested to McGrath he did not have sufficient experience to inform the court, and that he was not “a riding expert”, McGrath reported his previous work for the Professional Jockeys’ Association in tribunals, and highlighted 41 years’ experience in racing.

The trial continues.

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Jan Hughes

News Reporter, Everything Horse