RACEHORSE trainer Robert Alner was due to have a three-hour surgery to realign a bone in his neck on Friday after being involved in a car crash.

The Cheltenham Gold Cup-winning trainer was trapped after the red Peugeot 406 he was driving collided with a telegraph pole near Sturminster Newton just before 5am on Thursday.

The 63-year-old, of Locketts Farm, Droop, near Sturminster Newton, was later airlifted to Frenchay Hospital in Bristol, and scheduled for surgery, but the operation was held over.

A spokesperson for his stables said yesterday: "He didn't have the operation last night but hopefully he can have it today.

"We don't know any more than that at the moment."

She also confirmed that the renowned trainer and breeder, whose biggest success remains the 1998 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Cool Dawn, had been conscious and speaking to his wife Sally.

His accident has sent shock waves through the racing world, where Mr Alner is well-liked and respected.

David Briers, Echo racing correspondent, and a friend of Mr Alner's for 11 years, said: "He was conscious and I gather he had been giving Sally instructions on what horses to run and what not to run, so he must be sufficiently aware to be able to do that.

"He had movement in his arms, but the rest of his body was paralysed, and I think the operation was to resolve the problem in his neck."

Mr Briers, who is part of a horse-owning syndicate at Mr Alner's stables, said his friend had recently had a run of successes including two winners this week - Coolers Quest at Plumpton, and Ibberton which came in at 33 to 1 at Chepstow on Wednesday.

He added: "He's a lovely guy, so committed to racing, as is his wife Sally.

"Things were going so well, and for something like this to happen is absolutely awful.

"Everybody is just hoping and praying he makes a full recovery."