Walk In The Mill Grand National dream still alive for jockey James Best

The Grand National dream is alive for James Best after the jockey received the welcome news the shoulder injury he suffered at Doncaster last month should not prevent him from maintaining his partnership with last year's fourth Walk In The Mill on April 4.

When Best was unseated from Queen's Magic three out in the Listed chase won by Lady Buttons on December 29, he initially thought he had broken an arm, but it transpired that he had dislocated a shoulder.

The good news is that it will not require operating on and if his recovery goes well, he could be back in the saddle towards the end of next month.

However, with dual Becher Chase winner Walk In The Mill a general third favourite for the Randox Health-sponsored National behind Tiger Roll and Kimberlite Candy at between 14-1 and 20-1, he will not rush his return.

He said: "If I'd needed an operation I might have been off for four to six months, but when I went to Cardiff to see specialist Mr Geoff Graham, who has dealt with half of the Welsh rugby team as well as Christian Williams when he was riding, he said I didn't need one.

"Mr Graham didn't want to commit to any date for my return, but when I spoke to Dr Jerry Hill of the BHA and passed on what I had been told and what the scan had revealed, he said it might hopefully be six to eight weeks from the time it happened.

"Like any jockey I want to be back as quick as I can, and if it's six or eight weeks that would be brilliant, but obviously I want to make sure I'm 100 per cent, as I've got Walk In The Mill to look forward to in the National."

Best, who while sidelined can enjoy spending more time with his five-month-old son Oliver, has already begun daily gym work and physio at Oaksey House.

He has missed a winner or two already and might miss riding Walk In The Mill in a prep run over hurdles, but that will not matter so long as he is back on board Robert Walford's stable star on the big day.

He said: "After Walk In The Mill won the Becher again last month the plan was to probably just run in one novice hurdle, rather than the two he ran in last year, and then have a racecourse gallop or two before Aintree.

"I couldn't ask for a better target to aim for than riding him in the National again, as I'm sure Rob and I won't have many better horses in our careers than Walk In The Mill, so I'll be listening to the experts rather than rushing back before I'm ready."

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