Neck injury sidelines Leighton Aspell for at least six weeks
Two-time Grand National hero Leighton Aspell is set for a minimum of six weeks on the sidelines after fracturing and cracking bones in his neck in a fall at Hereford last Tuesday.
The good news for Aspell is that no surgery is required and he returned to his family home in West Sussex after a brief spell in hospital at the end of last week.
“I’ve fractured the C5 vertebrae in my neck and cracked the C4,” said the rider, who landed back-to-back Nationals on Pineau De Re and Many Clouds in 2014 and 2015.
He added: “Luckily no surgery is required but it’s six weeks in a neck collar, they’ll check it again then and hopefully we can make a plan.
"If the news is good I’ll be able to start thinking about getting back on board and it’s not going to be a long, long time off.”
Aspell was injured when his mount Jurby, trained like Many Clouds by Oliver Sherwood and owned by Trevor Hemmings, fell at the sixth in a 2m5½f novice hurdle, with Aspell initially confident he had escaped any serious damage.
He said: “It was a routine fall but I landed the wrong way. Although it was sore I was hopeful it wasn’t bad but x-rays suggested otherwise.
“I had two days in hospital for them to decide what was the best treatment and they were happy with six weeks in a collar. It’s a stable fracture and they’re happy I’ll make a full recovery.”
The injury rules him out of this year’s Randox Health Grand National on April 14.
Members can read the latest exclusive interviews, news analysis and comment available from 6pm daily on racingpost.com
Published on 2 April 2018inNews
Last updated 15:50, 2 April 2018
- Merci Olivier! No final winner for Olivier Peslier but the world of racing unites in saluting the end of a great career
- The latest edition of the Racing Post is available to read online now - here's how you can access it
- How Smart View recorded a 76 per cent profit at the Cheltenham Festival
- Smart View is available on the Racing Post app - how to read the revolutionary new racecard
- Levy reform talks 'accelerating' as clock ticks down to April deadline for agreement
- Merci Olivier! No final winner for Olivier Peslier but the world of racing unites in saluting the end of a great career
- The latest edition of the Racing Post is available to read online now - here's how you can access it
- How Smart View recorded a 76 per cent profit at the Cheltenham Festival
- Smart View is available on the Racing Post app - how to read the revolutionary new racecard
- Levy reform talks 'accelerating' as clock ticks down to April deadline for agreement