text: It had seemed likely to be the moment amateur jockey Lewis Ferguson had dreamt of – a first win on his first ride for new boss, champion trainer Paul Nicholls. But as he approaches the final fence of the John Dufosee Memorial Hunter Chase at Wincanton, clear leader Merrion Square swerves and he loses his balance. As Merrion Square cleanly jumps the fence alongside him, the 18-year-old rider’s waist collides with the fence with such force that he pivots. The birch of the fence acts like a spring board as Ferguson is made to look like a crash-test dummy as his momentum is brought to a juddering halt. 18-year-old amateur jockey Lee Ferguson is flung from his horse in spectacular fashion at Wincanton . The jockey from Hawick is propelled into an almost perfect 360 degree trajectory. His feet point directly to the sky as he continues through a spectacular and heart-stopping rotation that remarkably has all the grace of an Olympic gymnast on his way to maximum points for artistic interpretation. Ferguson’s whip goes flying as he begins to exit his spin and the turf starts to rush towards the disorientated young jockey. There is no time to brace himself for the impact with the on-rushing turf which is about to face him but fortunately at least he has been thrown clear of the chasing horses. Jockey Ferguson hits the fence after his ride stumbles wildly on the approach to the fence . Colliding with the barrier forces the amateur jockey into a spectacular mid-air somersault . Merrion Square was a hotly tipped favourite to win the 4.20 at Wincanton on Wednesday . Impact imminent, no evasion. Ferguson bounces back to earth but remarkably suffers no more than being briefly winded. He is able to stand and walk away with minimum assistance from attendants. A relieved Nicholls later jokes: ‘The only thing damaged is his pride!’ While Ferguson says: ‘I wasn’t aware of what had happened until after I watched the replay in the Weighing Room. I was just a bit winded. I have never had a fall like that before. It is not something you can practise for. Hopefully, it will never happen again. I am on the television but not for the right reasons. Coombe Hill won the race at 4-1 for trainer and former jockey Chris Honour. Ferguson escaped the fall with only 'dented pride' according to trainer Paul Nicholls . Ferguson crashes to the turf but managed to walk away from the freak fall unscathed . Meanwhile, Nicholls expects to have a team of four riders competing at the Grand National on April 11 as he tries to win the event for a second time. The champion trainer's assault on the world's greatest steeplechase will be led Rocky Creek and rising star Unioniste with a supporting cast of Royal Rebellion and Mon Parrain. 'I look like having four runners in the Crabbie's Grand National with Rocky Creek and Unioniste the two leading players for Team Ditcheat,' Nicholls told www.betfair.com. Merrion Square trainer Nicholls will have four horses racing at the Grand National on April 11 .
target: Merrion Square was the favourite in the 4.20 at Wincanton on Wednesday .
  Horse suffered a wobble that threw jockey Lewis Ferguson in a freak fall .
  Trainer Paul Nicholls confirmed the jockey escaped unharmed .