Racing: Williams injured and out for the season

Punters will have to manage for the rest of the season without their greatest ally in women's amateur races as Carol Williams has cracked her pelvis in a horrible fall on the gallops at Middleham.

The champion amateur woman rider and leader in this year's title race was airlifted to Northallerton Hospital after the accident, which occurred as she was returning from the gallops.

Her husband, fellow jockey Tyrone Williams, said yesterday: "They were just walking on the road and, for some reason, Carol's horse back-flipped and came over straight over on top of her. When she hit the ground she still had her feet in the irons and it gave her no chance."

"She was in so much pain it was unbelievable, but she was airlifted and within four and a half minutes she was in hospital. She's in traction and will be in bed for another two weeks. The consultant says it will be three months before she can ride a horse and then she's got to get herself fit again."

Kevin Ryan landed a psychological blow on Richard Hannon when Miss Takeortwo won at Leicester yesterday. Ryan is aiming to break his training rival's stranglehold on the Weatherbys Super Sprint when Miss Mirasol lines up at Newbury tomorrow. The North Yorkshire handler showed his juveniles are in good heart ahead of the £135,000 race when Miss Takeortwo beat Hannon's Litewska in the nursery. Hannon will be attempting a fourth success in the Newbury race.

"You have to be drawn high as the winner has never been drawn lower than 15," Ryan said. "With a decent draw Miss Mirasol has a good chance – she is by far the best two-year-old I have run."