Racing

Aintree hero One For Arthur ruled out for the season

Lucinda Russell’s Grand National winner suffering from tendon problem in right fore

Derek Fox riding One For Arthur wins the 2017 Randox Heath Grand National at Aintree last April. Photograph: by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)

Thu Oct 5 2017 - 17:45

Randox Health Grand National winner One For Arthur has been ruled out for the season, trainer Lucinda Russell has said.

This year’s Aintree hero is suffering with a tendon problem in his right fore and will not attempt to repeat his famous Grand National success next April.

Russell said: “He’s out for the season. It’s not a big injury, but it’s enough for us to stop with him. It’s obviously a shame, but hopefully we can get him back to full fitness.”

Arthur Russell added the injury was discovered on Wednesday when One For Arthur had undergone a first piece of work since his summer holidays.

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He was found to have disrupted fibres in his “right fore superficial flexor tendon”.

The eight-year-old gelding was one of the most evocative winners of the Grand National in recent times as he defeated Cause Of Causes by four and a half lengths under Derek Fox.

Stabled in Kinross, Tayside, One For Arthur became the first Scottish-trained winner of the big race since Rubstic in 1979. He was also the ante-post favourite to repeat the feat next spring.

Ante-post favourite Persuasive will face 12 rivals in the Kingdom of Bahrain Sun Chariot Stakes at Newmarket on Saturday.

The Cheveley Park-owned four year old has had a light campaign, having had only two previous starts this season. She was last seen finishing third in the Matron Stakes at Leopardstown and represents Arc heroes John Gosden and Frankie Dettori in this weekend's Group One feature. Gosden has a second string to his bow in Nathra.

Aljazzi, trained by Marco Botti, steps up to the highest level after slamming Nathra in the Atalanta Stakes at Sandown on her latest appearance.

The home team is completed by Roger Varian’s trio of Dawn Of Hope, Spangled and Tomyris, the William Haggas-trained Muffri’Ha and Saeed bin Suroor’s Arabian Hope.

Aidan O’Brien’s Alluringly and Roly Poly make the journey from Ireland.

A formidable French challenge is made up of Andre Fabre’s Usherette, the Jean-Claude Rouget-trained Qemah and Siyoushake from Freddy Head’s yard.

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