GRAND NATIONAL NEWS

Townend in National fitness race

Paul Townend is facing a nervous wait to see whether he will be passed fit to ride Burrows Saint in Saturday's Grand National.

Townend, leading jockey for Willie Mullins' stable, picked up a foot injury in a fall at Fairyhouse on Sunday and was forced to give up his rides for the Irish Grand National card on Easter Monday.

A decision on his participation in the Aintree spectacle will be made in the next couple of days, as the jockey aims to guide one of the leading contenders, Burrows Saint, to victory on Merseyside.

Speaking about Townend, Mullins, trainer of 2019 Irish National winner Burrows Saint, said, as quoted by the Daily Mail: “Paul will have another visit with his doctor during the week.

“We'll take it bit by bit and see how he goes before we make any further decisions.”