Grand National champions Auroras Encore and Ryan Mania are set to be reunited at Ayr after both were given the green light for Saturday’s Coral Scottish Grand National.
Less than 24 hours after tasting victory in the world’s most famous steeplechase on April 6, Mania crashed back down to earth with a bang, having to be airlifted to hospital following a heavy fall at Hexham.
Despite suffering a small fracture to a vertebra as well as some soft tissue and ligament damage to his neck, Mania was discharged from hospital last Tuesday and has now been given the all-clear by British Horseracing Authority chief medical advisor Dr Michael Turner to return to the saddle.
“I saw my own GP and then he sent the results of some tests to Dr Turner and, thankfully, he is happy for me to ride again,” Mania said.
“I’m delighted as I wouldn’t wanted to have missed riding him (Auroras Encore).
“The plan is to come back at Ayr on Friday.”
Auroras Encore, a 66-1 winner of the Aintree spectacular, will have to carry top-weight of 11st 12lb as he aims to become the first horse since the legendary Red Rum in 1974 to complete the rarely-attempted National double.
Trainer Sue Smith is happy to let her pride and joy line up, provided conditions do not become too testing.
“We had a pretty good idea he’d end up with top-weight, so that isn’t a surprise,” she said.
“It obviously doesn’t make life easy for him and we know it’s a very big task, but the horse is in grand order and went really well this morning.
“If I had any doubts or second thoughts about his well-being at all, we wouldn’t send him, but at this minute in time it looks like we might let him take his chance.”
A total of 37 horses have been confirmed for the Ayr feature , including the Pauline Robson-trained ante-post favourite Rival D’Estruval.
