Spare ride for Loughran

ROGER LOUGHRAN will take the plum spare ride on Vic Venturi in today’s Grand National after jockey Paddy Flood suffered a broken collarbone.

Flood’s mount Schindlers Hunt fell at the third fence in the Melling Chase, fracturing his near foreleg and had to be put down.

Vic Venturi’s trainer Dessie Hughes said: “We had a couple of options to consider but we’re going with Roger Loughran.”

Two other horses died at Aintree yesterday; Plaisir D’Estruval and Prudent Honour both fell at the 13th fence, Valentines Brook, in the Topham Chase.