BALLYCASEY’S GRAND NATIONAL came to a premature end when he was brought down at the Canal Turn — but jockey Ruby Walsh still found a way to make an important contribution.
Walsh was unseated when his horse collided with Balthazar King, who took a bad fall at the eighth fence and needed treatment from the on-course vets.
It meant that the field would have to bypass the fence on their second circuit of the Aintree course — no easy task with 29 of the 39 runners still standing at that point.
But some quick thinking from Walsh helped to avoid potential disaster. He grabbed the chequered flag and helped to wave the remaining contenders around the omitted fence safely.
After a long delay, Balthazar King got back to his feet and was later taken to the University of Liverpool’s equine care unit for further treatment.
