Sunday Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Big injury ‘gamble’ is landed
Arthur beat Cause Of Causes by four-and-a-half lengths to give Kinrossbased trainer Lucinda Russell the National glory.
“I was very concerned about getting back after I fell at Carlisle,” admitted Fox, who had only made his return at that same track last Wednesday.
“But after two weeks had passed it had healed as fast as I could have hoped,” added the 24-year-old, still wearing a plaster support on his wrist.
“I asked the doctor if it was possible to ride in the Grand National in four weeks’ time, and he said, ‘At least it’s a race you’re unlikely to fall off in!’
“He said, ‘The only way it will be ready is if you leave the plaster cast off’ – and it has all worked out very well.”
Fox went on: “My one jumped so well and the more horses that made mistakes, the better he seemed to jump.
“I couldn’t believe I was going so well after jumping three out.”
Saint Are, second in
2015, took third, ahead of 8-1 favourite Blaklion.
Russell, just the second Scottish-based handler in the race’s 178-year history to triumph, said: “I’m so proud of Arthur.
“He’s done us proud, he’s done everyone at the yard proud – and he’s done Scotland proud!”
Russell trains One For Arthur with partner Peter Scudamore, the son of Michael who was successful with Oxo in 1959, and died in 2014.
“I’ve got my dad’s lucky tie on,” gushed the eighttime champion jockey – third on Corbiere in 1985.
Scudamore, whose son Tom finished sixth aboard fancied Vieux Lion Rouge in yesterday’s race, added: “I don’t usually believe in those sort of things, but there’s obviously something in it.”