Fox is riding high after fall
HIS participation in the race was hanging by a thread just four days ago, and two years ago he was banned from driving for being nearly three times over the legal alcohol limit. Today, Derek Fox is a Grand National champion.
Fox, 24, only returned to jump racing on Wednesday after breaking a wrist and dislocating a collarbone when Ryalex fell heavily at Carlisle on March 9. ‘I was injured in a heavy fall on the novice chase and that was four weeks ago on Thursday,’ the jockey said.
‘This [National victory] is the best feeling I have ever had — or probably ever will have — and I want to make the most of it.
‘I don’t often get a chance to ride a horse as good as that. He’s just such a brave horse. A sign of a true racehorse [is] to win the Grand National. It’s unbelievable. He’s the gamest horse I’ve ever ridden and he galloped all the way to the line.’
The fall was not the only scare for Fox’s career, however. In 2015, he was banned from the roads for 20 months for drinkdriving.
It is quite a turnaround for Fox and he is entitled to celebrate. He has no rides today. And no drives either, you would hope.