Quai De Bourbon condition update after Grand National fall for horse | Racing | Sport

Grand National horse Quai De Bourbon is “home safe and doing well” following a fall during Saturday’s flagship race at Aintree. Willie Mullins’ horse was examined after his tumble at the second fence and was scheduled to travel home overnight after the race.

Mr Vango and Top Of The Bill were the other horses to fall at the Grand National. In a statement issued on Sunday morning, Mr Vango’s trainer, Sara Bradstock, said she is optimistic the horse will ‘make a full recovery’ – though he remains in an equine hospital after suffering an avulsion fracture in the neck.

The gelding, which fell at the sixth fence, was transported to Leahurst Equine Hospital on Saturday evening, where he will stay until he is given a clean bill of health. Speaking to the Press Association, Ms Bradstock said: “We’re still at the equine hospital, he does have a small avulsion fracture in neck, but it is nowhere near the vertebrae of his neck.

“We have to thank God and hopefully with a bit of a following wind he will make a full recovery. We’re looking after him very carefully and we will give him a CT scan before I bring him home.

“It could take a while, but hopefully he will be OK. If the CT shows we haven’t missed anything, he could be home by the middle of the week.I’m super careful and we won’t take any risks, but he’s here with his Shetland pony and they are both OK.

“There was a worry briefly last night, but we’re all a lot happier now and he’s moving around normally. I’m of course up here with him and Lily (daughter) is in with him giving him a brush.”

The trainer is still optimistic the fall may not signal the conclusion of her formidable chaser’s racing career. She added: “There’s every chance he will be back next season, but there is a chip off the wing of his vertebrae so that has got to land in the right place.

“He’s happy, he’s moving his neck and the vets are quite happy with him at the moment. The CT will tell us if there is anything more sinister we haven’t found. But as things stand he could be back next year.

“He will be well looked after whatever happens and at worst he can go and live with his friend Coneygree. They would be some posse as they both think they are the king.”

Meanwhile, Top Of The Bill, trained by Nigel and Willy Twiston-Davies, also received on-course examination following his tumble at the final fence. The incident resulted in jockey Toby McCain-Mitchell – grandson of Red Rum’s trainer Ginger McCain – receiving a 10-day ban from stewards for failing to pull up after the horse had fallen considerably behind.

The horse was described as ‘A1’ on Sunday morning by his training yard, who also witnessed Beauport unseat rider Sam Twiston-Davies during the Aintree marathon.

“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.”