Adam Wedge hoping to return in time for National ride on Secret Reprieve

Adam Wedge is keeping his fingers crossed as he aims for a potential injury comeback aboard Secret Reprieve in the Randox Grand National, for which 77 horses remain in contention after the latest forfeit stage (see below for the full list).

Wedge was triumphant on the Evan Williams-trained seven-year-old in the Welsh Grand National at Chepstow in January, prevasiling by three lengths despite his girth snapping during the race and his saddle slipping considerably.

The victory came after Wedge demonstrated his physical and mental durability when taking the ride on the horse following two heavy falls earlier on the same card.

Wedge’s toughness was put to the test again when he parted company with Hoi Polloi in a novice hurdle at Newbury in March, after which he gathered himself off the floor and returned to action for four rides the following afternoon back at the same track.

A subsequent scan revealed a fracture to his T12 vertebra, however, forcing him to take a break from riding which would include forfeiting his rides at the Cheltenham Festival.

Since the fracture was discovered, Wedge has begun the rehabilitation process – using the Injury Jockeys Fund facility in Lambourn, Oaksey House, and also enduring sessions in an ice chamber to aid his recovery.

“I’m getting there slowly,” he said.

“I’m getting into Oaksey House and getting on well with all of the team there and the therapy.

“Fingers crossed, as long as an X-ray looks good in a couple of weeks’ time, I’ll be working towards being back for Aintree.”

Although the aim is to return to the saddle for the Grand National, Wedge is aware that the nature of the injury means he cannot rush his recovery.

“It’s very much the plan, but I’ve got to go with what the specialists say,” he added.

“It’s a back injury at the end of the day – it’s not a collar bone or anything like that, (so) everything’s got to be 110 per cent right with it.”

Glamorgan-based Williams had a number of Cheltenham Festival runners which Wedge would have ordinarily partnered, the most prolific being Christmas Hurdle winner Silver Streak – who finished sixth behind Honeysuckle in the Unibet Champion Hurdle.

Another likely partner would have been Rebecca Curtis’ Lisnagar Oscar, aboard whom Wedge triumphed in last year’s Stayers’ Hurdle.

The eight-year-old fell when attempting the defend his title, but Wedge conceded it was still a struggle to watch the whole meeting from the sidelines.

“It’s very hard,” he said. “But at the end of the day I’m not the first person who’s going to miss out at Cheltenham – and I certainly won’t be the last.

“It is very hard but it’s great to see the horses running, even though I can’t be riding.”

Sweetening the lay-off is the prospect of reuniting with Secret Reprieve in the National, who is a leading fancy after his impressive Chepstow success but still as yet not guaranteed to make the cut for the final field, should connections opt to run.

“It’s definitely a ride to look forward to,” Wedge said.

“He’s a horse that seems to be improving, and I think Evan’s done a fantastic job in getting him in the right sort of form to go there.”

Meanwhile, the mercurial Balko Des Flos will have a new owner in time for the race after being sold online by Goffs on Wednesday. Soon-to-launch syndicate racehorseclub.com were purchasers, announcing that the horse would remain in training with Henry De Bromhead. He is yet to win another race since taking the 2018 Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

Other Grand National entries engaged in the sale were Ballyoptic (failed to reach reserve price) and Alpha Des Obeaux (withdrawn).

French-trained possibles Easysland and Ajas were among the horses taken out of this year's National at the forfeit stage on Thursday. The remaining 77 possible starters are below.

Santini (GB) 9 11 10 Mr & Mrs R. Kelvin-Hughes Nicky Henderson

Bristol de Mai (FR) 10 11 10 Mr Simon Munir & Mr Isaac Souede Nigel Twiston-Davies

The Storyteller (IRE) 10 11 8 Mrs Pat Sloan Mrs Denise Foster

Chris's Dream (IRE) 9 11 7 Robcour Henry de Bromhead

Yala Enki (FR) 11 11 3 Hills of Ledbury Ltd Paul Nicholls

Ballyoptic (IRE) 11 11 1 Mills & Mason Partnership Nigel Twiston-Davies

Definitly Red (IRE) 12 11 1 Phil & Julie Martin Brian Ellison

Lake View Lad (IRE) 11 11 0 Mr Trevor Hemmings N. W. Alexander

Burrows Saint (FR) 8 10 13 Mrs S. Ricci W. P. Mullins

Magic of Light (IRE) 10 10 13 Ann & Alan Potts Limited Mrs J. Harrington

Acapella Bourgeois (FR) 11 10 12 Slaneyville Syndicate W. P. Mullins

Talkischeap (IRE) 9 10 12 Mr Charles Dingwall Alan King

Tout Est Permis (FR) 8 10 12 Gigginstown House Stud Noel Meade

Anibale Fly (FR) 11 10 12 Mr John P. McManus A. J. Martin

Mister Malarky (GB) 8 10 12 Wendy & Malcolm Hezel Colin Tizzard

Kimberlite Candy (IRE) 9 10 10 Mr John P. McManus Tom Lacey

Beware The Bear (IRE) 11 10 10 Mr G. B. Barlow Nicky Henderson

Pym (IRE) 8 10 10 Mrs Patricia Pugh Nicky Henderson

Any Second Now (IRE) 9 10 9 Mr John P. McManus T. M. Walsh

Balko des Flos (FR) 10 10 9 Gigginstown House Stud Henry de Bromhead

Alpha des Obeaux (FR) 11 10 9 Gigginstown House Stud Mrs Denise Foster

Brahma Bull (IRE) 10 10 8 Mrs S. Ricci W. P. Mullins

Ok Corral (IRE) 11 10 8 Mr John P. McManus Nicky Henderson

Takingrisks (IRE) 12 10 7 Mr Frank Bird Nicky Richards

Shattered Love (IRE) 10 10 7 Gigginstown House Stud Mrs Denise Foster

Jett (IRE) 10 10 7 Mr Robert Waley-Cohen Mrs J. Harrington

The Jam Man (IRE) 8 10 7 Ronan M. P. McNally Ronan M. P. McNally

Lord du Mesnil (FR) 8 10 6 Mr Paul Porter & Mike & Mandy Smith Richard Hobson

Potters Corner (IRE) 11 10 6 All Stars Sports Racing & J Davies Christian Williams

Class Conti (FR) 9 10 6 Mr Simon Munir/Mr Isaac Souede W. P. Mullins

Milan Native (IRE) 8 10 6 Gigginstown House Stud Mrs Denise Foster

Discorama (FR) 8 10 6 Thomas Friel/Andrew Gemmell Paul Nolan

Vieux Lion Rouge (FR) 12 10 5 Prof Caroline Tisdall & Mr John Gent David Pipe

Cloth Cap (IRE) 9 10 5 Mr Trevor Hemmings Jonjo O'Neill

Cabaret Queen (GB) 9 10 5 Syndicates.Racing W. P. Mullins

Minellacelebration (IRE) 11 10 5 Mr Nick Elliott Katy Price

Canelo (IRE) 8 10 4 Mr John P. McManus Alan King

The Long Mile (GB) 7 10 4 Mr John P. McManus J.P.Dempsey

Give Me A Copper (IRE) 11 10 4 Done, Ferguson, Mason, Nicholls & Wood Paul Nicholls

Farclas (FR) 7 10 3 Gigginstown House Stud Mrs Denise Foster

Minella Times (IRE) 8 10 3 Mr John P. McManus Henry de Bromhead

Sub Lieutenant (IRE) 12 10 3 Ms G. Howell Georgie Howell

Hogan's Height (IRE) 10 10 3 Foxtrot Racing: Hogan's Height Jamie Snowden

Double Shuffle (IRE) 11 10 2 Crossed Fingers Partnership Tom George

Ami Desbois (FR) 11 10 2 The Reserved Judgment Partnership Graeme McPherson

Keeper Hill (IRE) 10 10 2 McNeill Family Warren Greatrex

Gold Present (IRE) 11 10 2 Mr and Mrs J. D. Cotton Nicky Henderson

Blaklion (GB) 12 10 2 Darren & Annaley Yates Dan Skelton

Some Neck (FR) 10 10 1 Some Neck Partnership John McConnell

Secret Reprieve (IRE) 7 10 1 Mr & Mrs William Rucker Evan Williams

Kauto Riko (FR) 10 9 13 Mr and Mrs J.Dale and Partners Tom Gretton

Fagan (GB) 11 9 13 Mr Ben Brackenbury Alex Hales

Deise Aba (IRE) 8 9 13 Mr Trevor Hemmings Philip Hobbs

Valtor (FR) 12 9 13 Mr Simon Munir & Mr Isaac Souede Nicky Henderson

Golan Fortune (IRE) 9 9 13 P Middleton, M Lowther Phil Middleton

Run Wild Fred (IRE) 7 9 11 Gigginstown House Stud Mrs Denise Foster

The Hollow Ginge (IRE) 8 9 11 The Ginge Army Nigel Twiston-Davies

Captain Drake (IRE) 8 9 11 Gary Stevens and Brian and Sandy Lambert Harry Fry

Another Venture (IRE) 10 9 11 Racing For Maggie's Partnership Kim Bailey

Crievehill (IRE) 9 9 11 Highclere T'Bred Racing- Crievehill Nigel Twiston-Davies

Flying Angel (IRE) 10 9 10 Mr R. J. Rexton Nigel Twiston-Davies

Prime Venture (IRE) 10 9 10 Mrs Janet Davies Evan Williams

Le Breuil (FR) 9 9 10 Mrs Emma Palmer Ben Pauling

Achille (FR) 11 9 9 Mrs Vida Bingham Venetia Williams

Hold The Note (IRE) 7 9 9 Mr T. P. Radford Mick Channon

Plan of Attack (IRE) 8 9 9 Mr A. Halsall Henry de Bromhead

Roaring Bull (IRE) 8 9 9 Gigginstown House Stud Mrs Denise Foster

Dounikos (FR) 10 9 9 Gigginstown House Stud Mrs Denise Foster

Treacysenniscorthy (IRE) 9 9 8 Paula Widger Robert Widger

Musical Slave (IRE) 8 9 8 Mr John P. McManus Philip Hobbs

Soupy Soups (IRE) 10 9 8 Equi ex Incertis Partners Neil Mulholland

Beau Bay (FR) 10 9 7 Mr Peter Green & Dr RDP Newland Dr Richard Newland

Shantou Flyer (IRE) 11 9 7 David Maxwell Racing Limited Paul Nicholls

Hear No Evil (IRE) 9 9 7 Mr Patrick Joseph McCartan Noel C. Kelly

Monbeg Notorious (IRE) 10 9 6 Gigginstown House Stud Mrs Denise Foster

Aforementioned (FR) 8 9 5 Gigginstown House Stud Mrs Denise Foster

Fingerontheswitch (IRE) 11 9 3 Cahill, Atwell & Crofts Neil Mulholland

Withdrawals: Easyland, Ajas, Glen Forsa, Agusta Gold, Death Duty, Jerrysback, Saturnas, Storm Control, Fitzhenry, Bellshill, Articulum, One Style and Bellow Mome (NQ).