Gordon Elliott dealt major blow just weeks out from Aintree Grand National leaving star trainer in crisis
GORDON ELLIOTT is going to require a major readjustment to his team for the Aintree Grand National and beyond.
That’s because one of the star trainer’s best jockeys has suffered a broken arm.
Antrim native Sam Ewing picked up the unfortunate injury while riding for him in a mares’ handicap hurdle at Musselburgh last Friday.
The prodigious 18-year-old was seen with his arm in a sling while entering an ambulance and confirmed the unlucky diagnosis soon after.
“Unfortunately I broke my arm. I have had surgery and hopefully should be on the mend now,” said Ewing.
It’s the last thing Elliott wanted to hear as he’s got enough of a jockey quandary as it is.
The luckless Jack Kennedy is still recovering from his sixth leg break.
And while legendary Davy Russell stepped into the breach for Cheltenham, he had a poor festival and wound up being stood down on the final day after himself sustaining an injury.
Ewing actually filled in for him on Conflated in the Gold Cup – finishing in a creditable third place.
To top all of this off Jordan Gainford, who has ridden 19 Irish winners for Elliott this season, has an injury question mark over him too.
The 23-year-old has not ridden in two weeks since being unseated on Riviere D’Etel in the Mares’ Chase at Prestbury Park.
AINT IDEAL
It all means the Cullentra handler will be scrambling while devising his plans for the Aintree Grand National – which is now just over two weeks away.
The 45-year-old is set to have 13 runners in this year’s edition of the world’s most historic race.
Jockeys, trainers and owners will all have their eyes on a slice of the £1million prize money up for grabs.
Last year’s winner was Noble Yeats, ridden by amateur jockey Sam Waley-Cohen and priced at a huge 50-1.
Which just goes to show anybody can claim the prestigious trophy.
Winning the Grand National was a fairytale ending to Sam Waley-Cohen’s career as a jockey.
in 2021 Rachael Blackmore became the first-ever female jockey to win the Grand National.
The Irish jockey rode Minella Times to victory at the Merseyside course.