National hero One For Arthur to miss the season after setback

Last season's Grand National winner One For Arthur will not attempt to win the race again this season after suffering a season-ending injury.

Lucinda Russell's stable star was the ante-post favourite to repeat the feat at a general 16-1 for next April's race, but that plan has had to be shelved.

Quoted on her website, Russell said: "One For Arthur has been monitored and scanned since the Aintree Grand National and yesterday, after his first piece of work, he was found to have disrupted fibres in his right fore superficial flexor tendon. He will miss the rest of this season."

Although the eight-year-old will not be sighted this campaign, the injury is not considered career-ending and connections will aim to have him ready for the Aintree showpiece again.

"Arthur's Grand National win has changed our lives and we are eternally grateful to him," Russell added.

"Arthur's welfare comes first and his rehabilitation will be tailored to bring him back for the Grand National in 2019."

One For Arthur's victory in April was a historic moment for Scottish racing, as he became the first winner of the race trained in the country since Rubstic in 1979.

As well as a first Grand National for Russell, it was also a landmark victory for jockey Derek Fox, who won his race against time to return from a broken wrist to take the ride and secure a famous victory by four and a half lengths.

What happened next to Grand National winners?

Rule The World 2016

A month after his Grand National win, retirement beckoned for Rule The World. He was given one more outing after Aintree, finishing a respectable sixth in Grade 1 novice chase at Punchestown but, given his history of pelvic injuries, connections decided he had more than earned a life of luxury.

Many Clouds 2015

Oliver Sherwood's winner may have lost his life, but his legend lives on. Many Clouds returned to Aintree a year later but finished down the field. However, he returned to a tremendous level of form when winning a Listed race at Aintree, and then inflicted a first defeat over fences for Thistlecrack at Cheltenham. Sadly that victory came at the ultimate cost.

Pineau De Re 2014

Richard Newland's hero kept coming back for more but failed to reach the heights he achieved at Aintree. He was down the field behind Many Clouds a year later but did manage to gain another victory before retirement, over hurdles at Carlisle. In doing so, he became the first Grand National winner to win another race since Bindaree, the 2002 winner. Pineau De Re carried on racing to the age of 13 and was then retired.