Grand National stewards issue Jax Junior update after horse taken away in ambulance

An update has been provided on Jax Junior's condition after the William Hill Manifesto Novices' Steeplechase at Aintree on the opening day of the Grand National Festival. The horse walked into a horse ambulance following the end of the race.

He has since been taken back to the stables for further assessment, with ITV Racing presenter Ed Chamberlin offering an update several minutes after the end of the race. He said: "The latest on Jax Junior. He actually walked onto the horse ambulance and is being taken back to the stables for further assessment. Any more news, we'll let you know."

In a statement, the stewards later added: "Following the race, the Veterinary Officer reported that JAX JUNIOR, which was pulled up, was lame on its right-hind."

Koktail Divin won the Novices' Steeplechase, with Blueking D'Oroux taking second place and Mambonumberfive coming home in third.

Nico de Boinville was unseated on big favourite Lulamba at around the midway point of the race. Both jockey and horse appeared to be okay, with Lulamba carrying on and actually crossing the finish line first.

It comes after two horses pulled out of the Grand National, with defending champion Nick Rockett being withdrawn on Thursday morning. He was declared a non-runner on account of a self-certificate for coughing.

Nick Rockett's replacement, Pied Piper, also pulled out just hours later with trainer Gordon Elliott offering an explanation on ITV Racing.

"He's going to miss the race," announced Elliott. "We left the yard yesterday morning and rolled out and everything was sound, 100 per cent.

"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."

Like all sports, horse racing involves risks, but The Jockey Club - the owner of 15 racecourses in the UK and the organiser of both the Cheltenham and Aintree Festivals - are working to continuously minimise the risks at its events.

Their data shows that at the Grand National, the average number of fallers has halved throughout history, while the 10-year fatality rate has reduced by over a third.

Since 2000, the racing industry has invested more than £63million in equine welfare, including veterinary science, education and research.

At Aintree alone, the changes include: replacing the timber central frame of fences with more forgiving plastic cores, levelling the landing side of some fences including Becher's Brook, a £400,000 investment in Aintree's watering system, reducing the maximum field size from 40 to 34 and a stricter qualification criteria and veterinary checks.

British racing has an independently-chaired Horse Welfare Board, whose long-term strategic plan 'A Life Well Lived' is already yielding results.

The racing industry regularly consults with established welfare organisations such as World Horse Welfare, RSPCA and Blue Cross to ensure it continually meets the highest standards.

EXPRESS SPORT ON FB! Get all the best sports news and much more on our Facebook page.