Jack Kennedy will not feature on any of Gordon Elliott’s runners in the Randox Grand National with Keith Donoghue booked to continue his association with the stable’s leading hope Delta Work.
Kennedy has been battling to recover from a broken leg, sustained in January, which forced him to miss the Cheltenham Festival but has not won his race to be fit in time for the £1 million race at Aintree on Saturday.
“Jack won’t be riding at Aintree,” said his agent Kevin O’Ryan. “He is nearly there but Aintree is coming too soon.”
The 23-year-old Kennedy steered Delta Work to finish third behind Noble Yeats in last year’s Grand National but Donoghue will be in the saddle on the big race second favourite, having won the Glenfarclas Chase on the horse at the Cheltenham Festival.
Donoghue was the regular partner of Tiger Roll yet forfeited the ride to Davy Russell for both his Grand National wins. He has only had one previous ride in the race, finishing eighth on Valseur Lido in 2018.
The veteran Russell, who has not ridden since being stood down at the Cheltenham Festival, but returns in time for the opening day of the Grand National meeting on Thursday, will partner Galvin.
Elliott, the most successful Grand National trainer with three wins, has named Jonjo O’Neill Jr on Fury Road, Harry Cobden on Coko Beach, Adrian Heskin on Escaria Ten and Jack Tudor on Dunboyne.
