The unusual incident was picked up on the TV footage in the opening race of seven at Cheltenham on Saturday, the William Hill Epic Boosts Novices' Limited Handicap Chase over 2m 4f

Eagle-eyed TV viewers spotted a man crawling across the course at Cheltenham as horses thundered towards him.

The individual was seen in the left-hand corner of the Racing TV footage while the runners were galloping towards the final fence in the William Hill Epic Boosts Novices' Limited Handicap Chase (1.10pm).

Spectacularsunrise held a two-length lead at the time and came down, as another fancied runner Lisbane Park fell independently.

Irish raider Rockonliam was left in the lead but began to idle and was reeled in by Sean Bowen's mount O'Moore Park (25-1), a transfer from Willie Mullins' yard to Martin Keighley's.

However, on a wet and windy afternoon at Prestbury Park, some fans of the sport were left wondering why the man was on the ground in the closing stages of the 2m 4f contest which started the card.

"Why we got some fella at Cheltenham on his hands and knees scrambling to avoid horse 2 out. What on earth is going on!" one person wrote on social media site X.

And another asked: "Was there somebody crawling along the floor as the horses turned in at Cheltenham?"

A stewards enquiry was held and it was found that they were a member of staff who had slipped while heading across the course.

The report published on the British Horseracing Authority website read: "An enquiry was held to consider the circumstances surrounding why a member of the veterinary team appeared to be attempting to get up off the floor between the final two fences as the field passed.

"The clerk of the course was interviewed and reported that the staff member had lost their footing while crossing the track, as was their routine. He continued that as it was on the outside of the racing line and they did not have time to move, the individual made the decision to remain on the floor until the field had passed.

"After hearing the evidence, a report was forwarded to the Head Office of the British Horseracing Authority for further consideration."

Cheltenham's two-day meeting marked the return of jumps racing there for seven months, after the final fixtures of the 2025-6 season were cancelled to allow a significant drainage project to be carried out.

It was undertaken on the back of the discovery of a hole in the racing surface on Festival Trials Day in late January.