Jockey on Grand National favourite cleared to ride iconic race – but may still face ban for ‘ride of the season’
THE jockey on the Grand National favourite has been cleared to ride in the iconic race but may still be banned.
Derek Fox, who won last year’s £1million Aintree race on Corach Rambler, was hailed by punters for his last-to-first victory on Clovis Boy at Newcastle on Tuesday.
But he looked to strike the horse eight times after the final hurdle – one above the permitted level of seven.
The BHA have considered a review and while he may be banned at a later date, he is clear to ride in the National.
Fox is already banned on April 9 and 10 for breaking whip rules on his runner-up ride aboard Camp Belan at Hexham last Friday.
Bosses cut his suspension from four days to two on the grounds he had gone over 150 rides since a previous whip breach.
Corach Rambler is the 4-1 favourite for this year’s race, being run at the new time of 4pm on Saturday, April 13.
The three-day Aintree Festival kicks off on Thursday, April 11.
Irish jockey Fox, 31, is already a two-time National winner having won the 2017 race on One For Arthur.
He was a brilliant winner on Corach Rambler 12 months ago for Scottish trainer Lucinda Russell.
However, the build-up to that £500,000 win was not without drama as Fox had to recover from a shoulder injury in the nick of time.
Corach Rambler and Fox were sent off 8-1 favourites for the race delayed 15 minutes by yobs who stormed the track and glued themselves to fences.
They are strong favourites to repeat the feat this year after coming third in the Gold Cup at Cheltenham.
Judges think the ten-year-old horse, who will carry 11st 5lb, is well-in based on his Festival effort.
Corach Rambler is one of the few British horses remaining in the race.
Gary Moore’s Nassalam, Joe Tizzard’s Eldorado Allen, Tom Ellis’ Latenightpass, Peter Bowen’s Mac Tottie and Dan Skelton’s Galia Des Liteaux are the only other Brit entries currently guaranteed a run.
The field has been slashed from 40 runners to 34 this year as part of a sweeping overhaul of the world’s most famous race.
That rule change could ruin Harry Redknapp’s dream of having a runner in the race.
His Cheltenham Plate winner Shakem Up’Arry has been entered and halved in odds to 33-1.
But he needs ten horses to come out before final declarations on Thursday April 11, two days before the race.
It is not yet clear who could deputise for Fox if he is banned.
But Stephen Mulqueen won the Grade 1 Sefton at last year’s National meeting aboard Russell’s Apple Away, so he looks a logical choice.
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