Irish jockey Derek Fox has some help from Wales in bid to win the Grand National with One For Arthur
- The 26-year-old jockey had an op in November after suffering a back injury
- Fox made swift return but was still in some discomfort a few months later
- Trainer Lucinda Russell sent him to see physio Prabhat Mathema
If Irish jockey Derek Fox wins the Randox Health Grand National on Scotland’s One For Arthur on Saturday, a little of the credit will go to Wales — and their Grand Slam-winning rugby union team in particular.
Fox has endured a problem with his back this season and an operation for a slipped disc in November forced him to miss the return of 2017 National winner One For Arthur the following month.
The 26-year-old jockey made a rapid comeback and was on board One For Arthur when he ran at Haydock in February.
Little has gone right for One For Arthur since his 2017 win in the Grand National at Aintree
But with Fox still in discomfort, trainer Lucinda Russell and her partner Peter Scudamore asked for help from former British and Irish Lions physio Prabhat Mathema, now national medical manager for the Welsh Rugby Union.
The consultation, set up by Wales team manager Alan Phillips, took place in early March, the day before Wales beat Scotland 18-11 at Murrayfield.
Fox said: ‘Lucinda was good enough to send me to see the physio to the Welsh rugby team when they were staying in Edinburgh. He looked over me and gave me some good advice.
‘Half the jump jockeys in the weighing room are riding with some sort of niggle. It is just something you have to live with. If you can’t do that, you are no good in the game.
‘He gave me a set of exercises and told me what to do and what not to do on a daily basis. It is working really well. I have a routine now.
‘I met some of the Welsh rugby boys. I don’t follow any sport other than horseracing, but it was still nice to meet them.’
Little has gone right for One For Arthur since his Aintree win.
He missed last season injured and has unseated his jockey on both runs this season.
But Fox’s physical improvement has coincided with more positive reports on the 10-year-old following a work-out at Carlisle racecourse just over a week ago.
Fox said: ‘He moved beautifully and had a great cut at his fences. He feels like he has picked up. Hopefully, both me and the horse are coming right together.’
