Worry for Russell as Fox awaits whip ruling

THE team behind Randox Grand National favourite Corach Rambler fear they may lose jockey Derek Fox if the BHA’s Whip Review Committee slap him with a ban today. Fox’s last-to-first ride on Clovis Boy at Newcastle on Tuesday was praised on social media but he appeared to breach rules which permit a jockey to use the whip seven times in a jumps race. The loss of Fox would be a major blow to trainer Lucinda Russell. He is a dual Grand National winner, landing the race in 2017 on One For Arthur and last year on Corach Rambler. Since Corach Rambler arrived at Russell’s stable in Scotland he has been ridden in all his 16 races by 31-year-old Fox. British stables are seriously outnumbered by Irish entries in the Grand National on April 13. The number of runners will be restricted to 34 this season and after this week’s latest forfeit stage only six of those 34 berths are currently occupied by British-trained horses. Corach Rambler is the big home hope, especially after what appeared a career-best performance when third to Galopin Des Champs in the Cheltenham Gold Cup earlier this month. Fox’s affinity with Corach Rambler and his confidence in the horse would make his loss a major headache. He won a fitness race to ride Corach Rambler last year when Brian Hughes was on stand-by but the Russell stable’s policy this season has been to use their in-house team of riders when Fox has been sidelined. That would make Stephen Mulqueen and Patrick Wadge, who is on course to be the season’s champion conditional jockey, candidates for the ride at Aintree if it becomes free.