Grand National 2019: Jockey Barry Geraghty ruled out after breaking leg in Aintree fall
- Published
Barry Geraghty suffered his fall on Peregrine Run
Randox Health Grand National |
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Venue: Aintree Racecourse Date: Saturday, 6 April Time: 17:15 BST |
Coverage: Live on BBC Radio 5 Live and the BBC Sport website. |
Jockey Barry Geraghty has been ruled out of the Grand National after suffering a broken leg in a heavy fall at Aintree on Friday.
Geraghty, 39, had been due to ride top weight Anibale Fly on Saturday. Mark Walsh will take his place.
Fellow rider Mark Enright was also taken to hospital after falling from his mount in Friday's Topham Chase.
Two horses - Forest Des Aigles and Crucial Role - were fatally injured on the second day of the meeting.
The Dan Skelton-trained Crucial Role fell in the Mildmay Novices' Chase, while Forest Des Aigles, trained by Lucinda Russell, was injured when in contention approaching the final fence in the Topham Chase.
Their deaths are the first at this year's festival.
Geraghty clutched his leg after falling from Peregrine Run, and was stood down for the rest of the day, with Mark Walsh replacing him on Champ, who won the following Sefton Novices' Hurdle.
Anibale Fly, trained by Tony Martin, is about a 14-1 chance for the National after coming fourth in the race last year and finishing third and second in the last two runnings of the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Geraghty won the National in 2003 on Monty's Pass and is the second most successful jockey at the Cheltenham Festival after Ruby Walsh.
He told attheraces.com: "It's a real sickener to miss the Grand National, which is the race I look forward to more than any other.
"In terms of when I'll be back, it's too early to say. It's probably going to need surgery to straighten it. I'd only be guessing at this stage, but I'll probably be at least 10 to 12 weeks on the sidelines."
Walsh is switching to Anibale Fly from Regal Encore, who runs in the same colours for Anthony Honeyball. Jonathan Burke has stepped in to ride Regal Encore.
All the runners and riders have returned safely in the last six Grand Nationals after a series of safety improvements at the track, but British racing has been under pressure from politicians and welfare groups to improve its overall record.
There has been one equine death in the past two editions of the festival.
However, four horses died in the 2016 meeting, with another two put down in the following days, in part due to injuries sustained that year at Aintree.