A Grand National jockey was banned for ten days after he failed to pull up a tired horse before it fell at the last fence of the big race on Saturday.
Toby McCain-Mitchell, grandson of legendary Red Rum trainer Ginger McCain, was making his debut in the race.
For good luck the 24-year-old carried a lock of three-time race winner Red Rum’s hair in his gloves.
His mount Top Of The Bill, trained by father and son Nigel and Willie Twiston-Davies, was a 50-1 chance for the Aintree feature having recorded a win and a second on his three starts under his young rider this season.
He was right up with the leaders during the first half of the race, holding second place jumping the Chair before going to the front at the 20th of the 30 fences.
However he made a mistake at the 25th obstacle, Valentines, on the second circuit, from where he began to gradually fall back through the field and was right out of the reckoning by the time he fell at the last fence.
Top of The Bill was one of three horses to require veterinary treatment. He was assessed on the racecourse by the Aintree team and was walked back to the stables for further monitoring.
Top of the Bill ridden by Toby McCain-Mitchell, front, clears a fence during the Grand National horse race at Aintree racecourse in Liverpool, Saturday, April 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
Two other fallers, Quai De Bourbon and Mr Vango were taken by horse ambulance, back to the stables to be assessed by vets. All remaining horses were accounted for.
The Aintree stewards held an inquiry to consider whether McCain-Mitchell should have pulled up Top Of The Bill “having been in a prominent position before weakening rapidly”
The report said: “The rider and the Veterinary Officer were interviewed and recordings of the incident were viewed. Having considered the evidence, McCain-Mitchell was suspended for 10 days for failing to pull up when the horse had tailed off.”
