Pic: The picture taken by Patrick McCann just before he was hit by a horse at Cheltenham is incredible

Not the sort of close up that most photographers want

The scariest moment of the 2015 Cheltenham Festival was undoubtedly the moment when Quantitativeeasing was forced through the rail two from home in the Glenfarclas Handicap Chase. The horse went right at Racing Post photographer Patrick McCann and he did very well to largely avoid the animal, however he did end up with a leg broken in three places and he is in hospital today having an operation. Now the final image taken by McCann before the impact has been published and it is as incredible as it is scary.

Fair play to @patrickmccannrp, he had his finger on the button until the very last moment! #pro #bottle #getwellsoon pic.twitter.com/wiW7pN1ouP — Kevin Blake (@kevinblake2011) March 12, 2015

And here are the two before the final pic, plus the final pic too

.@patrickmccannrp photos from the cross-country chase at #CheltenhamFestival #NiceWork #GetWellSoon pic.twitter.com/xJK65tQO8E

— Sarah Corcoran ️ (@corcoransarah) March 12, 2015