Bryony Frost taken to hospital after injuring shoulder in fall at Aintree

Bryony Frost was taken to hospital with a suspected shoulder injury after a fall on the opening day of the Grand National meeting.

Frost, who is not due to ride in Saturday's Randox Grand National, had one mount on Thursday on the Paul Nicholls-trained Thyme White, who fell three fences from home in the Grade 3 Close Brothers Red Rum Handicap Chase.

Clerk of the course Sulekha Varma said: "She has been taken to Aintree Hospital with a suspected shoulder injury."

The six-time Grade 1-winning rider was due to partner Hitman for Nicholls in the Marsh Chase on Friday at Aintree and was also booked for the Harry Fry-trained Master Debonair in Saturday's Grade 3 handicap hurdle.

Frost has had two rides in the National in a bid to emulate her father Jimmy's success on Little Polveir in 1989, her first when finishing fifth on Milansbar in 2018.

Last year she was unseated on Yala Enki at the 20th fence in the National and was taken to Aintree Hospital with concussion before being released with minor injuries.

The Red Rum was won by The Last Day for trainer Evan Williams and jockey Adam Wedge.

Nicholls takes control of trainers' title race

Nicholls is leading the Aintree top trainer competition on day one after saddling Clan Des Obeaux to win a second Betway Bowl and Monmiral to finish second in the Aintree Hurdle.

Nicholls' stable jockey Harry Cobden is tied with Aidan Coleman for top rider honours as both partnered a winner and second. Coleman won on Epatante and finished second on the Gavin Cromwell-trained Law Ella in the concluding mares' bumper.

It was also a good day for Kielan Woods, who rode his first Grade 1 winner with Millers Bank in the opening Manifesto Novices' Chase. He also finished third on Shakem Up'Arry in the Red Rum.

Nicholls, who also scooped prize-money when Cat Tiger finished second in the Foxhunters', now leads the trainers' championship by £230,137 from Nicky Henderson.

Neither Nicholls nor Henderson is represented in the Grand National on Saturday, while fellow championship contender Willie Mullins has four chances.

Trainers' Championship current standings

1Paul Nicholls £2,461,636
2Nicky Henderson £2,231,499
3Dan Skelton £1,949,416
4Willie Mullins £1,624,400

Good to soft ground on all three courses at Aintree after rain on day one

Ground conditions eased slightly on a wet and windy first day of the Randox Grand National meeting.

Clerk of the course Sulekha Varma said: "We had around 3mm of rain through the day. We changed the ground to good to soft on the Mildmay and hurdles courses just before the Aintree Hurdle. I'd had a chat with the jockeys and a few of them felt it was heading towards soft."

The ground was also described as good to soft on the Grand National course, which will be used for the Topham Chase on Friday.

Looking ahead to the second day of the meeting, Varma said: "The forecast for tonight is a 40 to 50 per cent chance of a shower overnight then sunny spells and scattered showers tomorrow.

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