CAMPBELL.. IT’S FOR YOU

Arthur’s win dedicated to tragic rider

LUCINDA RUSSELL yesterday dedicated One For Arthur’s Grand National victory to Campbell Gillies.

Gillies, a young jockey attached to Russell’s Kinross yard, suffered fatal injuries in a freak swimming pool accident while on holiday in Greece in June 2012.

That tragic incident came weeks after the 21-year-old had partnered Brindisi Breeze to win at the Cheltenham Festival and it could have been he, rather than Derek Fox, who would have been in the saddle on Saturday had he lived.

“Campbell was a huge part of the team – his sister Rita still works for us – and his loss was devastating,” said Russell (right with One For Arthur).

“I always hoped we would achieve something that would have made Campbell proud, and I’m sure he would have been proud of ‘Arthur’.

“Jaimie Duff, who helped lead ‘Arthur’ yesterday, was wearing a pair of Campbell’s lucky socks, so Campbell’s memory is very much part of our National win.

“I’m so proud of what we’ve achieved here. Scottish racing is starting to thrive and that’s the way it has to be,” added Russell.

“If we can put this stable on the map for British racing, then that would just be super.”

The trainer revealed One For Arthur, who carries the colours of ‘Two Golf Widows’ Debs Thomson and Bel McClung, will now be put away before being trained for the 2018 National, for which he is the 14-1 favourite..

“He’ll go in a field now – he’s never been one to run too many times,” said Russell of the eight-yearold, who will parade at Kelso this afternoon.

Sligo-born Fox, who broke his left wrist and dislocated his right collarbone in a fall at Carlisle on March 9, made his return to action only last Wednesday.

Russell’s partner Peter Scudamore, gave praise to the staff at the Injured Jockeys Fund’s Jack Berry House in Malton for their role in Fox’s rehabilitation.

“Without the care, he wouldn’t have made it,” said the eight-time champion jockey. “He was in a lot of pain.”