Three Grand National Fallers Require Medical Attention After Aintree Race
Three horses needed urgent veterinary assessment following falls during Saturday's Grand National at Aintree, with one remaining hospitalised due to a serious neck injury. The horses involved were Mr Vango, Top Of The Bill, and Quai De Bourbon, all of whom fell during the iconic steeplechase near Liverpool.
Mr Vango Sustains Avulsion Fracture in Neck
Trainer Sara Bradstock confirmed that Mr Vango remains at Leahurst Equine Hospital after sustaining an avulsion fracture in his neck during his fall at the sixth fence. In a detailed statement released on Sunday morning, Bradstock expressed cautious optimism about the gelding's recovery prospects.
"We're still at the equine hospital, he does have a small avulsion fracture in his neck, but it is nowhere near the vertebrae," Bradstock told the Press Association. "We have to thank God and hopefully with a bit of a following wind he will make a full recovery."
The trainer explained that Mr Vango will undergo a CT scan before potentially returning home later in the week. "If the CT shows we haven't missed anything, he could be home by the middle of the week," she added. "I'm super careful and we won't take any risks, but he's here with his Shetland pony and they are both OK."
Racing Future Remains Uncertain
Bradstock revealed there's a chip off the wing of Mr Vango's vertebrae that needs to settle correctly, but she remains hopeful about his racing future. "There's every chance he will be back next season," she stated. "He's happy, he's moving his neck and the vets are quite happy with him at the moment."
The trainer emphasised that regardless of the outcome, Mr Vango will be well cared for. "He will be well looked after whatever happens and at worst he can go and live with his friend Coneygree," Bradstock noted. "They would be some posse as they both think they are the king."
Other Injured Horses Show Positive Recovery Signs
Top Of The Bill, trained by Nigel and Willy Twiston-Davies, fell at the final fence during Saturday's race. His jockey Toby McCain-Mitchell received a 10-day suspension from stewards for not pulling up when the horse had dropped well behind.
However, the training yard reported positive news on Sunday morning. "Top Of The Bill is home and has trotted up sound this morning and his heart rate is back to normal, so all is fine," said Willy Twiston-Davies. "He's absolutely A1. Our other runner Beauport is the same, so we're all good."
Willie Mullins' Quai De Bourbon, who fell at the second fence, was assessed on course and was due to make the journey home overnight after the race. No further complications have been reported regarding his condition.
Incident Highlights Racing Risks
The injuries sustained during this year's Grand National highlight the inherent risks of elite steeplechasing. While the majority of horses complete the challenging course safely, falls remain an unfortunate reality of the sport.
Trainers and veterinary staff continue to monitor all affected horses closely, with particular attention on Mr Vango's neck fracture recovery. The racing community will await further updates on his condition following the planned CT scan.
