Top jockey Derek Fox has described his heartbreak at having to miss the Randox Grand National on Saturday.
Fox, 32, is the most successful active Grand National-winning jockey having won the race twice on One For Arthur in 2017 and Corach Rambler in 2023, both trained in Scotland by Lucinda Russell. He will have to sit out this week’s big meeting after suffering an injury in a fall at Sedgefield last month but has shared details of his situation and comeback schedule.
“I broke the L1 vertebrae on my back and I also broke my collarbone and the first rib on my back as well, so a pretty heavy fall which was unfortunate,” he said in an interview with https://www.freebets.com/. Injuries involving your back and neck are probably the most serious. Everything else heals eventually, but with your back, you have to be careful.
“So, in that regard, this is the most serious injury I’ve had. The staff at Sedgefield were excellent and got me the help I needed very quickly. I’m very grateful for their professionalism. I imagine it will be around eight weeks before I’m back to race riding, but that depends on how things progress.”
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He added: “Missing the big meetings like Aintree is heartbreaking. Once you get painkillers, the physical pain goes away, but the mental pain of not getting to Aintree is massive. Things can always be worse, but it’s a real sickener.”
Russell’s only entry in the Grand National, Apple Away, is 51 on the list and is unlikely to get a start in the race which is limited to 34 runners.
Nevertheless Fox is taking a great interest in the race and reckons Cheltenham Gold Cup-winning trainer Gavin Cromwell could saddle the winner.
“I like Gavin Cromwell’s horse, Perceval Legallois,” he said. “That’s the one I’d want to be on. He looks like he’s been really prepared for it. He’s won a big-field handicap chase at Leopardstown and won a hurdle last time out.
“I think Mark Walsh, as far as I know, is going to take the ride on it, and I rate Mark very highly. I think it’s a great standard in the weighing room, but I think Mark Walsh is a standout rider. He’s going to be a great man to have on board and is on a nice weight.
“I’m sure I Am Maximus will be well-primed for the day as well, but I just have a feeling about that other JP horse.”
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