One for Jack as Fox thanks medics for helping him to glory

Derek Fox said he owed his Randox Health Grand National victory on his debut appearance to the facilities and staff at Jack Berry House, the Injured Jockeys Fund rehabilitation centre in Malton.

Without it he would never have recovered in time from breaking his left wrist and right collarbone in a fall at Carlisle four weeks earlier to take the mount on One For Arthur.

Fox, 24, had to prove his readiness by doing press-ups on his fist and only got the all-clear to return to race-riding on Wednesday, but on his sixth ride back he steered One For Arthur to a stirring victory for the training partnership of Lucinda Russell and former champion jump jockey Peter Scudamore.

"I hurt my wrist in a heavy fall on March 9," said Fox. "The recovery all comes down to Jack Berry House and the fitness instructor, physio and all the staff. I was so determined to get back but if it wasn't for them I wouldn't be here."

'Never a moment's worry'

Sligo-born Fox joined Russell in 2013 and was appointed stable jockey last year, enjoying his breakthrough when One For Arthur landed the Classic Chase at Warwick in January.

He said he never had a moment's worry in the Aintree race as he waited until the final fence to play his hand and then stretch clear.

"To win the National you need everything to go your way but he jumps so well. After we went one circuit I couldn't believe how well I was going," added Fox.

"He was jumping so well I was inclined to keep him wider because he was making two or three lengths at every fence. I was closing and was nearly going to be there too soon. I couldn't resist much longer after the second-last.

"You see the footage of horses like Many Clouds and you never think it's going to happen to you. It's just better than I thought it would be.

"Not everyone can be champion jockey but it gives a standard jockey like me the chance to shine on the big stage."

Peter Scudamore, whose father Michael won the 1959 Grand National on Oxo, never won the big race to go alongside eight jockey championships but was working with Nigel Twiston-Davies at the time of his two successes with Earth Summit and Bindaree.

Scudamore, wearing his father's lucky tie, said: "I was a trustee of the IJF and Jack, who is mentally and energy-wise three times the man I am, used to say he was going to raise millions to build Jack Berry House and I'd think, 'Come on, let's concentrate on something we can achieve'. I went there last week and it's a fabulous place.

"You talk of Scudamores in the Grand National, it's the Oakseys and Jack Berrys who are the heroes of this sport.

"It's the perfect story because Derek has battled his way back from injury. If the doctor had put a plaster on him he wouldn't have ridden in the National. At Jack Berry House they worked and worked on him."