Harry Cobden eyes swift return after avoiding serious injury from Aintree fall

Harry Cobden is hoping to be back in the saddle in a couple of days after he was "lucky" to avoid a serious injury from a heavy fall sustained at Aintree on Saturday, which sidelined him from a ride in the Randox Grand National.

Cobden missed out on the ride on Give Me A Copper in the showpiece after Lucky One came down in the Mersey Novices' Hurdle. He was taken to nearby Aintree Hospital, where he was initially set to spend the night with reports suggesting he had sustained facial fractures.

But Cobden was discharged and, after returning home last night, is set to have an easy time over the next couple of days before returning to riding duties for boss Paul Nicholls.

"I'm going to be absolutely fine," he said. "There's no fractures or broken bones and I'm hoping to be back as soon as possible. I got a couple of kicks from one behind us, so I'm lucky there are no broken bones.

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"I had a nice book of rides lined up on Saturday and Lucky One was going pretty well at the time when he came down, so who knows what would have happened.

"Paul has got lots of horses to run at Ayr next weekend as well as different meetings in between then and the end of the season, so it'll be good to try and get back as quickly as possible."

The three-day meeting provided mixed fortunes for the jockey, who enjoyed a Thursday Grade 1 double with Monmiral and Clan Des Obeaux, but picked up an eight-day ban on Friday which had already ruled him out of the final day of the British jump season at Sandown.

Cobden also confirmed that promising juvenile Houx Gris sadly suffered a fatal injury when unseating in the Top Novices' Hurdle.

Houx Gris: sadly suffered a fatal injury in the Top Novices' Hurdle at AintreeCredit: Arqana

He added: "Thursday was phenomenal, it was a fantastic day in my career. Friday was also good with lots of horses running well, but it did put a dampener on it losing Houx Gris in the novice hurdle. It was really sad to lose him."

Paul Nicholls also provided a positive update on Bryony Frost, who is "stiff and sore" but expected to be fit to ride Frodon at Sandown a week on Saturday following her fall from Yala Enki in the National.

From a post on his Twitter account, he said: "I've just seen Bryony, she's a little stiff and sore but will hopefully be able to ride from the middle of next week and be fit to ride Frodon at Sandown."

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