Jax Junior collapsed at the conclusion of the William Hill Manifesto Novices' Steeplechase at Aintree, with medics immediately placing the horse under assessment. A horse ambulance rushed to the scene and a barrier was erected for privacy. Jax Junior walked onto the horse ambulance and was taken back to the stables for further assessment.
The current condition and prognosis for Jax Junior after being taken to the stables remains unknown. In the same race, jockey Nico de Boinville was unseated from Lulamba at around the midway point. De Boinville later fell from Lulamba in the Manifesto Novice's Chase before riding Jango Baie to victory in a subsequent race.
He's going to miss the race. We left the yard yesterday morning and rolled out and everything was sound, 100 percent. He was a bit tight yesterday evening and he's just not right this morning, he's lame behind, so obviously horses come first and foremost. He's at home. Very unfortunate for the owners, staff and everyone involved. He will be there for another day.
The exact reason for Lulamba's fall and whether the horse is fully okay has not been disclosed. The Grand National field saw significant changes with defending champion Nick Rockett withdrawn on Thursday morning due to a self-certificate for coughing. Nick Rockett's replacement, Pied Piper, also pulled out hours later.
In the Racing Welfare Bowl, jockey Paul Townend fell from Impaire Et Passe at the second last fence. Jango Baie went on to win that race by 16 lengths. Brighterdaysahead won the Aintree Hurdle as the 13-8 favorite, finishing two and a quarter lengths clear of The New Lion.
It's a funny old game and it certainly keeps you meek and humble. You just have to look at yourself in the mirror and say, 'Come on lad, chin up, let's go again'. Jango Baie has put to bed the stat that they go to the Gold Cup and don't come here. It's all down to the trainer and team at home. It's very special and it will mean a lot to the Barneys.
Trainer Gordon Elliott and jockey Jack Kennedy secured two wins on the first day of the Grand National meeting. Koktail Divin won the Novices' Steeplechase, with Blueking D'Oroux finishing second and Mambonumberfive taking third. The William Hill Manifesto Novices' Steeplechase was marked by multiple incidents beyond Jax Junior's collapse.
Nico de Boinville's unseating from Lulamba occurred approximately halfway through the race, adding to the eventful nature of the contest. The race concluded with Koktail Divin emerging as the winner, followed by Blueking D'Oroux in second place and Mambonumberfive in third. The withdrawals from the Grand National included Nick Rockett, who was pulled out due to a coughing issue documented on a self-certificate, and his replacement Pied Piper, who was also withdrawn shortly after.
She is a great mare. She lost nothing in defeat in the Champion Hurdle [at the Cheltenham Festival] - she got beaten by another superstar. It is lovely for her to come here and get the job done. Stepping up in trip, she was probably doing a little bit more than I wanted today but she is a strong stayer so I was happy to let her roll. She jumped great. She is incredibly quick and she is a very slick hurdler for a very big mare. She can make up plenty of ground at a hurdle.
In the Racing Welfare Bowl, Paul Townend's fall at the second last fence allowed Jango Baie to seize victory by a margin of 16 lengths. Brighterdaysahead's performance in the Aintree Hurdle as the favorite resulted in a win by two and a quarter lengths over The New Lion. Gordon Elliott and Jack Kennedy's successful day featured two wins, contributing to the overall excitement of the meeting.
She's a champion. This is probably her trip. She was awesome. I was nervous but it was easy to watch. Jack was brilliant on her.