Brian Hughes will miss the ride aboard The Romford Pele in the Crabbie's Grand National after being stood down for the rest of the day following a fall in the opening race at Aintree.
Hughes, who was set to partner the Rebecca Curtis-trained The Romford Pele in the world's great steeplechase, parted company at the first from the long-absent Urban Hymn in the Gaskells Waste Management Handicap Hurdle.
Hughes had initially been due to ride O'Faolains Boy for Curtis in the National before the nine-year-old was declared a non-runner this morning when found to be lame. He switched to The Romford Pele, replacing Trevor Whelan.
Curtis said of O'Faolains Boy: "He was absolutely fine yesterday but when he pulled out this morning he was just a bit sore. He has a slight bit of swelling under his hock.
"He'll be fine in a few days but obviously it rules him out for today, unfortunately. Why today?"
Curtis expects to get O'Faolains Boy back on the track before the end of the month.
"He'll be absolutely fine again next week," she said.
"He's in the Scottish National and the bet365 Gold Cup (at Sandown) and there's also Punchestown so he will go again this season."
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