Ruby Walsh Out of Grand National

Ruby Walsh - Getty Images

Ruby Walsh was ruled out of the Grand National with a fractured wrist after two falls at Aintree on Friday.

The two-time winner was set to ride the Willie Mullins-trained Sir Des Champs in Saturday's race

Walsh, 36, gave up his final two rides on Friday after first falling on the 1-5 favourite Vautour in the Melling Chase and then on Blood Cotil in the Topham Chase.

Nina Carberry will deputise for Walsh aboard Sir Des Champs.

Carberry joins Walsh's sister Katie, rider of Ballycasey, in the line-up for the 169th staging of the race, which has never been won by a female jockey.

Trainer Willie Mullins confirmed on Twitter than Carberry will replace Walsh in the Grand National, with Paul Townend getting the nod for Walsh's other rides on Yorkhill in the Mersey Novices' Hurdle and the favourite Douvan in the Maghull Novices' Chase

Mullins earlier played down the severity of Walsh's injuries after he did not take up his mounts on Bellshill in Sefton Novices' Hurdle or Battleford in the final race of the day.

"As far as I know he stood himself down and has decided to take rest of the day off. He'll be fine for tomorrow," Mullins said.

Sir Des Champs, the 2013 Cheltenham Gold Cup runner-up, was a 40-1 chance before the field was finalised on Thursday, but his odds halved after Walsh was confirmed as jockey.

Nina Carberry won the Fox Hunters' Chase at Aintree riding On the Fringe in 2015

Sir Des Champs will be the sixth ride in the Grand National for Carberry, who is the sister-in-law of Ruby Walsh.

She made her National debut on Forest Gunner in 2006, finishing ninth. Her best finish was seventh aboard Character Building six years ago.

Carberry was only cleared to ride in this year's National after the British Horseracing Authority overturned a ban in March because of "ambiguous wording" of a rule.

Her late call-up means two women will ride in Saturday's race as Ruby's sister Katie Walsh is on Ballycasey, also trained by Mullins.

Katie Walsh achieved the best Grand National finishing position by a female jockey when third aboard Seabass in 2012.

On Friday night, Sir Des Champs was rated about a 20-1 chance by bookmakers, while Ballycasey was 66-1.

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Kinane Wins Aintree Legends

Mick Kinane landed the honours on American Trilogy in the John Smith's Aintree Legends Charity Flat Race at Aintree.

The 13-times champion Irish Flat jockey, who retired at the end of 2009, took the Paul Nicholls-trained grey into the lead about two furlongs out.

Brushing off the challenge of Waldvogel, ridden by 1997 Grand National-winning jockey Tony Dobbin, American Trilogy stormed clear to win by nine lengths.

Waldvogel kept on for second, a length and a half ahead of Cape Express, ridden by Marcus Armytage, who won the National in 1990.

Kinane said: "A fraction of it (ability) is still there, it was great to do it.

"Bob (Champion) rang me in December and he caught me at a good moment. I put the phone down and thought what have I got myself into? Just as I'd come to terms with retirement!

"This is a fantastic cause and it's a pleasure to be a part of it.

"I was fishing around for a ride and Paul Nicholls came up with this horse.

"He said the horse had lost a bit of confidence over fences and his rating suited the race.

"I said to Paul afterwards to take a picture so he could get a Flat one on the wall to go with all the jumps winners!

"It was great to ride for the champion trainer and the horse travelled beautifully.

"I was very confident turning for home that unless somebody was stalking me, I was in good shape."

Nicholls said: "It's lovely to give Mick a winner and it was a nice outing for the horse, too.

"I'm pleased for the owners as they've lost family to cancer, so they wanted to support this race.

"He travelled so well, I'm tempted to run him on the Flat.

"He did run on the Flat in France and I'm sure there'll be some races for him."

Finian Rainbow Finds Pot of Gold

Finian's Rainbow and Barry Geraghty triumphed in the John Smith's Melling Chase at Aintree.

Nicky Henderson's star won the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham and was impressive again here despite demolishing a rail before the Grade One race and jumping moderately throughout the contest itself.

However the 13-8 favourite had enough class to see off Wishfull Thinking (15-2) before the last fence and he stormed clear up the run-in.

Philip Hobbs' runner bounced back to form for Richard Johnson and held every chance turning in but was no match for the winner, whilst Albertas Run (11-4), winner of the race in 2010, faded into third having helped to cut out the early pace with Poquelin.

Thomas Cooper's Forpadydeplasterer finished fourth but was well held.

Henderson said: "Last year as a novice he was trying to do everything in a terrible rush. He was only a bit quieter here last year because he'd had a hard race at Cheltenham.

"He grew up last summer for some reason and suddenly became sensible. This season he's been much more amenable.

"You'd always expect this fella to stay. Last year he looked an out and out two-miler because he was doing it in such a rush.

"Today he was always in a comfortable position just behind and you just hoped he was in cruise control and he probably was. When he switched him on he picked it up very quickly.

"We've got all summer to think about next season, but we're in a good position to be able to think about things. He's won the Champion Chase, he's won this. He goes to bed with all the medals."

Owner Michael Buckley said: "He's pretty special. "I wasn't worried about him stepping up in trip. The ground is probably a little on the soft side for him now, but he's very relaxed now and acts like a stayer, like we always thought he would be.

"How far he'll stay I've no idea."

Wishfull Thinking's trainer Philip Hobbs said: "It's good to see him back and he ran a much better race.

"It's been a very frustrating season but we schooled him straight away after Cheltenham and he's been absolutely fine.

"We'd have to think about Punchestown, as it's not very far away."

Jonjo O'Neill, trainer of Albertas Run, said: "I don't think it's because he had a hard race at Cheltenham. I'm a bit worried his old problems have come back.

"He looked like he might have been feeling his leg a bit. We'll just have to get him home and see, but he certainly won't be running again this season."

Ruby Delivers Big Buck's Record

Big Buck's duly made history with a 17th consecutive victory over hurdles in the BGC Partners Liverpool Hurdle at Aintree.

In a race devalued by the exits of Poungach, Won In The Dark and Smad Place in the back straight, Paul Nicholls' charge was not extended to win the Grade One race for a fourth time.

Sent off a prohibitive 2/9 favourite, Big Buck's cantered round behind leaders Across The Bay and Poungach until the latter capsized, taking out Won In The Dark.

Smad Place then made a bad mistake and got rid of Robert Thornton four flights from the finish, leaving the door open for Big Buck's to surpass Sir Ken's previous record set in the 1950s.

Jumping to the front three out, Ruby Walsh eased the nine-year-old away from the three remaining in touch, and two more fluent jumps in the straight sealed victory by nine lengths, from a seemingly revitalised Crack Away Jack (33/1) with Across The Bay (50/1) keeping on for each-way supporters.

Flattered

"He seemed to be idling a little in front," said Andy Stewart, owner of Big Buck's. "Alan King's horse (Smad Place) was right behind us until unfortunately he came to grief. I was glad to see them all get up.

"We take every race as it comes and we are totally flattered by the reception he has been given by everyone here. He hasn't had an off-day since unseating in the Hennessy a few years ago.

"Undoubtedly (this win means the most), this is absolutely marvellous. Each win is very precious, but obviously to do 17 and go into the record books is very precious to us.

"It's been very flattering. People have been coming up for my autograph - he's more newsworthy than I am, but it's a privilege.

"Next year he'll go for the same programme and the Cleeve Hurdle as well."

Nicholls said: "It was straightforward today. He jumped and travelled and did everything right. We're happy with him.

"Now he's got older it pays to give him a race between the Long Walk and Cheltenham, so the Cleeve is ideal. We'll follow the same route."

Walsh added: "The easy part is riding him. He's an incredible horse. He's skated in today. It wasn't as competitive a race as Cheltenham.

"He's bolted in and the last couple of years he's been better here than at Cheltenham.

"We're lucky we've never got to the bottom of him. He's never been extended over hurdles. I would say there's more there."

Big Buck's Seeks Number 17

Big Buck's will go for a record 17th straight career win in the Liverpool Hurdle on Thursday's first day of the Grand National meeting.

The nine-year-old equalled Sir Ken's mark of 16 victories in a row when winning a fourth World Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival last month.

Big Buck's faces seven rivals as he seeks a fourth consecutive Liverpool Hurdle win at the three-day fixture.

Meanwhile, Riverside Theatre heads the Betfred Bowl Chase (1505) contenders.

The horse, who is part-owned by actor James Nesbitt, triumphed in the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham last month and will face his Nicky Henderson-trained stablemate Burton Port, who was fourth in the Gold Cup and will be ridden by Tony McCoy.

Another interesting runner is the Keiran Burke-trained Cheltenham victor Hunt Ball, the winner of seven races since November which has seen his rating rise from 69 to 154.

Meanwhile, the Foxhunters Chase (1540) will see amateur riders negotiate the National fences, with Gwanako, My Way de Solzen and Cloudy Lane amog the hopefuls.

Ther meeting starts in style with the popular Big Buck's. His main challenger may be Alan King's Smad Place, who ran a career-best in the World Hurdle, finishing just over eight lengths behind in third.

Owner Andy Stewart is hoping his horse can create history at the Liverpool course.

"Big Buck's has been absolutely fine. Obviously he had a race at Cheltenham as they all did, but there have been no problems at all since," he said.

"He has never been beaten at Liverpool because he ran in a chase race the year before he won his first Liverpool Hurdle and, despite hitting every fence in the back straight, he still managed to get up and beat Albertas Run.

"I wouldn't say he is better at Aintree as the fields he's been facing there haven't been as strong as at Cheltenham but he just seems to recover so quickly. After this year's World Hurdle you wouldn't have known he had a race - he could have gone round again.

"Obviously he is feeling it because he is nine years of age now, so youth is just on his side but it's not quite the same as when he was seven. One day he will turn around and say 'I don't want to do this any more' but I think we are miles away from that at the moment."

Nicholls also runs the lightly-raced Poungach while the former Nicholls-trained Crack Away Jack has his first start for Tom George.

Restless Harry runs for Robin Dickin while Sabrina Harty's Won In The Dark is the sole Irish challenger and the Donald McCain-trained Across The Bay completes the field.

Ruby, John Smith and Seabass

Seabass is in line for a crack at the John Smith’s Grand National after stretching his unbeaten run to seven in the paddypower.com Chase at Naas. The four-and-a-half-mile spectacular at Aintree may be a totally different test to this Grade Two contest over two miles — but trainer Ted Walsh believes it is worth a try.

And Walsh knows what it takes, having tasted National glory in 2000 with Papillon, who had finished fourth in this race in his glory season. Seabass had to show battling qualities, as well as a touch of class, when rallying in determined fashion to collar Zaarito close home by a length.

Sent off the 5-4 favourite, Seabass cut out the running with Saludos but Zaarito looked like he had timed his run to perfection when going on between the last two fences. However, Ruby Walsh got a tremendous late effort out of the nine-year-old to get up in the dying strides, much to the delight of his syndicate of owners, who hail from Co Galway.

“Seabass got under the last but was gutsy. He was out of his comfort zone over two miles and was going faster than he wanted to go, but battled well,” said the trainer. “Maybe some of the other horses weren’t as good as they used to be, but he was won €120,00 since he won his point to point and that’s not bad!

“If he stays sound, we’ll go to Aintree for the Grand National. There’s no ideal type of horse for that race, you won’t know until you get there. Nobody knows if he’ll get the trip, he’s never been beyond three miles, but I imagine looking at him he is the right type.

“However, the biggest problem is keeping him sound — he has been on the ‘scrap heap’ three times already.”

Walsh acknowledged that his son might be committed to a horse at Aintree trained either by Willie Mullins or Paul Nicholls, and he rode Prince De Beauchene to National favouritism at Fairyhouse on Saturday.

Should that be the case, Walsh senior would hand the ride to his daughter, Katie. He added: “The choice will be be Ruby‘s and he rides for Willie (Mullins) or Paul (Nicholls) but if for some reason they went by the wayside he might decide to ride this fellow. If he doesn’t, I have a very able substitute in Katie.”

Synchronised Top Weight for Aintree

Synchronised has been handed top weight of 11st 10lb for this year's Grand National at Aintree.

The nine-year-old Lexus Chase winner, trained by Jonjo O'Neill, recently won the Leopardstown Grade One and in 2011 triumphed in the Welsh National.

Ballabriggs, who shouldered 11st to victory in last year's race, will be saddled with 11st 9lb on 14 April.

Weird Al and Midnight Chase both sit on 11st 8lb, while Irish Hennessy winner Quel Esprit is on 11st 7lb.

The Henrietta Knight-trained Calgary Bay and Paul Nicholls's Neptune Collonges are both on 11st 6lb, while John Hanlon's Alfa Beat and Philip Hobbs' Planet Of Sound have been allotted 11st 5lb.

"I'm very happy with his weight but I wanted 11st," said Hanlon. "He's in great form at the moment and he'll have a run in Down Royal in about three weeks.

"Good ground is vital to him and he should get it over there. The National has been his aim all year."

The David Pipe-trained Junior, the 14-1 market leader, failed to get in the field last year but has a certain place in 2012 with 11st 2lb.

Aintree managing director Julian Thick said: "It is tremendous to see 69 of the 82 entries in the handicap and the 2012 renewal of Grand National promises to be a race full of quality, with more horses rated over 135 entered than ever before."

Full weights:

Synchronised - 11st 10lb

Ballabriggs - 11st 9lb

Weird Al, Midnight Chase - 11st 8lb

Quel Esprit, Burton Point - 11st 7lb

Calgary Bay, Neptune Collonges - 11st 6lb

Alfa Beat, Planet Of Sound - 11st 5lb

Blazing Tempo, Roberto Goldback - 11st 4lb

Deep Purple, Black Apalachi - 11st 3lb

Junior, Scotsirish, Quantitativeeasing, Tartak - 11st 2lb

Apt Approach, Little Josh - 11st 1lb

Psycho - 11st 0lb

Chicago Grey, Tatener - 10st 13lb

Shakalakaboomboom, West End Rocker, According to Pete, Seabass - 10st 12lb

On His Own, Hector's Choice, Massini's Maguire - 10st 11lb

Cappa Bleu, Always Right - 10st 10lb

Crescent Island, Rare Bob - 10st 9lb

Mon Mome, Organisedconfusion, The Midnight Club, Treacle - 10st 8lb

Hold On Julio, Alan King, Arbor Supreme, Cooldine, Hold on Julio - 10st 7lb

Prince De Beauchene, Pearkysteps, Prince de Beauchene 10st 6lb

Roulez Cool, Niche Market, Stewart's House, Sunnyhillboy, Uncle Junior - 10st 5lb

Fair Along, Killyglen, Quiscover Fontaine, Tharawaat - 10st 4lb

State Of Play, Always Waining, Becauseicouldntsee, Le Beau Bai, Swing Bill - 10st 3lb

Postmaster, Shakervilz, The Package, Wymott - 10st 2lb

Backstage, Giles Cross, Hello Bud, In Compliance, Midnight Haze, Northern Alliance, Vic Venturi, Viking Blond - 10st 1lb

Qhilimar - 9st 13lb

Some Target - 9t 10lb

Neptune Equester - 9st 9lb

Any Currency - 9st 8lb

Our Island, Schindler's Gold - 9st 7lb

Abbeybraney, Saddler's Storm, Smoking Aces - 9st 5lb

King Fontaine - 9st 4lb

Another Palm - 9st 3lb

Ballyvesey - 9st 2lb

Minella Theatre - 9st 0lb