'Lucky' Coleman expects to be fit

The 21-year-old lay on the ground for several minutes after a crashing first-flight fall from Double Handful on day one of the Aintree meeting. He struggled to his feet before being taken to hospital.

However, his abdomen injury was less serious than initially feared and he hopes, after more physiotherapy, to resume riding today.

"I am a bit sore but I will be all right," said a bruised and battered Coleman.

"I have three booked rides and all being well I will be on them all – the doctor has basically said I will be okay now.

"I got a good kicking and I am bruised around my abdomen. They did all sorts of scans but I am just bruised.

"I was lucky – a bit higher or a bit lower and it could have been a lot worse."

His injury overshadowed a day of shocks at Aintree, the most significant being Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Imperial Commander unseating Paddy Brennan in the totesport Bowl.

The Nigel Twiston-Davies trained horse was never jumping fluently and his exit – when beaten – allowed What A Friend, co-owned by Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, to land the feature and stake a claim for next year's Gold Cup.

It provided Ferguson with some consolation for his side's Champions League exit.

"I'm very pleased, it's fantastic and I was so excited," he said. "Every fence you're jumping yourself, that's the beauty of it."

What A Friend's victory completed a double for Ruby Walsh after he won the opener on Big Buck's, the horse confirming his status as the country's best staying hurdler.