TOP JOCKEY DAVY RUSSELL  could be forced to watch next month’s Aintree Grand National from his couch after picking up an injury while racing at Thurles yesterday.

The day had started brightly enough for the Youghal man who partnered 4/5 favourite Launchpad to a six-length victory in the two-mile Moycarkey Hurdle.

In the very next race, however, he had a heavy fall aboard Academy Rose when in contention two flights from home. Scans subsequently revealed that he had sustained a hairline fracture to a metacarpal bone in his left hand.

Russell is now expected to be out of action for up to two weeks, leaving him fighting against time in order to be fit for the Aintree Festival which begins on April 7.

The jockey was expected to ride Noel Glynn’s Becauseicouldntsee in the festival’s showpiece, the Grand National, on April 9.

Russell’s injury also damages his prospects of winning the title of Irish champion jockey for 2010/2011. The Corkman currently lies in second place having ridden 67 winners so far this season.

If he is absent for two weeks as expected, he is unlikely to catch Paul Townend who currently leads the way with 76 winners.