Grand National winning jockey Derek Fox still can’t believe he won the National on One For Arthur
Fox produced Lucinda Russell's One For Arthur perfectly to win the Aintree spectacular and is still pinching himself as the momentous triumph begins to sink in
JOCKEY Derek Fox is still pinching himself from his momentous triumph aboard One For Arthur in the Randox Health Grand National.
Just days after returning from almost a month on the sidelines with injury, the 24-year-old produced Lucinda Russell's chaser with a brilliantly-timed challenge to become the first Scottish-trained winner of the National since 1979.
Having been part of the celebrations that continued long into the night on Merseyside, Fox missed much of One For Arthur's homecoming in Milnathort on Sunday and is still coming to terms with the magnitude of his success.
Fox told Press Association Sport: "I still can't believe it, to be honest. I'm over the moon.
"I stayed in Aintree on Saturday with the owners and had a great night.
"I went back home Sunday morning, but I was late enough getting up, so I missed most of the press day back in the yard.
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"I had a bit of a sore head and because I had to do 10st at Kelso, I couldn't even have much to eat."
It was a well-deserved few hours for the Sligo native having belied his inexperience with the coolest of rides to win the world's most famous steeplechase at the first attempt.
To the naked eye it looked as though the well-backed favourite Blaklion had cut loose, but Fox kept "a level head" and delivered One For Arthur to lead at the final fence before galloping on for a comprehensive success.
"I kind of had an idea going out that we'd be far enough back," added the jockey, who was out of luck from four rides on his return to action at Kelso on Monday.
"He's the type of horse that warms into a race - that's just his style of running - so I was-half prepared for it.
"I couldn't believe how fast the first circuit went in my head. We seemed to get round so quick and then when we jumped the water we were rolling.
"His jumping was second to none on the day. I was making lengths at every fence and once we started to pass one or two he was really enjoying it.
"It was a bit of a surreal feeling. It felt like we were accelerating, which you couldn't believe at the end of a four-mile race.
"I was starting to get excited at that stage, but you have to try and keep a level head and stay cool, which isn't as easy as it sounds.
"He jumped a shade to the left at the second-last and we had a bit of a collision with Blaklion, so that was a brief scare, but it didn't slow him down and he's done it very well in the end.
"I think he showed a lot of class on the day as we were worried enough whether he'd have enough pace on the drying ground."
With the season approaching its climax, Fox hopes to find an opportunity to return to Ireland for further celebrations with his close friends and family.
He said: "Hopefully we can find a couple of spare days to go back home and see everyone.
"I've had so many messages from people, it's unbelievable."