There were a number of nasty falls an injuries at the 2026 Grand National, with concerns over Top Of The Bill and Quai de Bourbon

Aintree officials have issued an update on two horses who were hurt during falls in the Grand National. A number of horses fell during the race, with particular concern among viewers for Top of The Bill and Quai de Bourbon.

Top of The Bill who was being ridden by legendary trainer Ginger McCain’s grandson Toby McCain-Mitchell was initially being assessed on the course, with a later update confirming he was up and had walked off the course.

There were also concerns about Quai de Bourbon, who fell early and looked unwell before he was taken to a horse ambulance to be assessed back at the stables.

Jockey Robert Dunne, who was riding Stellar Story, has been taken to hospital for assessment. He was said to be conscious and talking as he was taken away in an ambulance.

The race was won by favourite I Am Maximus

More to follow

But the former two-time world heavyweight champion cannot afford to overlook Makhmudov, the aggressive and hard-hitting Russian contender who last fought as recently as October, when he defeated David Allen in Sheffield. Before that we will see Conor Benn, who fights under the Zuffa Boxing banner having split from Matchroom and Eddie Hearn as he meets Regis Prograis in a catchweight bout in his first outing since that rematch win over arch-rival Chris Eubank Jr.

Kurt Pearn appeared at a Durham Crown Court on Wednesday (April 8), via video link from Holme House Prison, in Stockton accused stabbing the man on Oak Terrace in Consett, on Saturday March 7.

His barrister Chris Baker asked that the charge was not put to Pearn, saying: “The defence would like a psychiatric report in this case.

“We need to be sure he is fit to plead and to stand trial.”

Judge Richard Bennett agreed and adjourned the hearing until May 26, when he said the defendant could again appear via the prison to court video link.

Pearn, 35 today, of Weaver’s Croft, Crook, remains remanded in custody.

Martin Keown criticised Arsenal players for not passing the ball to Max Dowman enough as they fell to a devastating defeat at home to Bournemouth.

The Gunners had the chance to move 12 points clear of the summit of the Premier League and tighten their grip on the title in front of their own fans on Saturday afternoon.

But an insipid display led to their third defeat in their last four matches with Bournemouth sealing a 2-1 victory.

Viktor Gyokeres drew his side level after 35 minutes following Junior Kroupi’s early strike but it failed to spark the hosts into life.

Seeing no improvement from his side in the opening nine minutes of the second-half, Arteta decided enough was enough and made three changes with Eberechi Eze, Leandro Trossard and Dowman replacing Gabriel Martintelli, Kai Havertz and Noni Madueke.

The changes had little effect on the game with Arsenal still labouring. Arteta’s side were punished again after 74 minutes; coming up short in three second-ball situations before Alex Scott produced a fine finish to beat David Raya.

Despite only turning 16 in December, Dowman has looked at home in the first-team squad and was instrumental off the bench in Arsenal’s previous Premier League game, helping set up one and scored the other in dramatic 2-0 win over Everton.

He could not replicate that impact on Saturday with Keown frustrated Arsenal did not look for their young teammate more often.

‘Arsenal fixed the play and the picture never changed,’ Keown told TNT Sports. ‘Arsenal then couldn’t develop the play into their midfield players.

‘Even when Dowman came on, we were all screaming give him the ball, but they didn’t have enough good control of the ball in the midfield and that is all down to Bournemouth and Arsenal not mixing up their game enough.’

Manchester City face a tough test away to Chelsea on Sunday but if they come through that, they can reduce the gap at the top to just three points when they play Arsenal at the Emirates next weekend.

City will then have a game in hand on their rivals.

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AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — Rory McIlroy planned to keep his mind off golf as much as possible while awaiting the third round of the Masters.

“There’s actually two really good semifinals at Monte Carlo in the tennis. So I’ll watch that,” he said. “We’ve been watching the tennis early in the mornings.”

The tennis matches might be more competitive than what’s taken place so far at Augusta National, where McIlroy led by a record six strokes after 36 holes. He birdied six of the last seven in a second-round 65 on Friday that left him at 12 under par for the tournament.

Now this could go a few different ways. McIlroy could cruise to victory and become the fourth player to win back-to-back Masters. He could maintain this level of domination and challenge Tiger Woods’ record for margin of victory (12) or Dustin Johnson’s for lowest score (20 under).

Or he could blow the lead and make history that way — 36 holes is a lot of golf still to play.

“Look, I’ve built up a nice cushion at this point,” McIlroy said. “I guess my mindset is just trying to keep playing well and keeping my foot on the gas.”

McIlroy nearly was paired in Saturday’s final group with Patrick Reed, his foil during a memorable Ryder Cup match in 2016 and in the final group of the 2018 Masters, won by Reed. But a bogey on the 18th hole Friday left Reed tied for second with Sam Burns, who will play with McIlroy on Saturday.

“Just have to wait and see what the weekend entails,” Reed said. “Hopefully I can go out and have a good day tomorrow and have a good shot going into Sunday.”

Justin Rose, Shane Lowry and Tommy Fleetwood were another stroke back at 5 under.

Bryson DeChambeau won’t be playing this weekend after finishing at 6 over and missing the cut. He owed his exit to a pair of triple bogeys in which he needed multiple shots to get out of bunkers. The first was on No. 11 on Thursday. The second was on the 18th hole Friday, when he only needed a bogey to play on.

Before McIlroy finished his run of six birdies in the last seven holes Friday, the best round of the tournament was Tyrrell Hatton’s second-round 66. He was at 4 under along with Wyndham Clark, Haotong Li, Jason Day, Cameron Young and unheralded Norwegian Kristoffer Reitan.

The rest of the field shouldn’t give up. McIlroy, after all, shot 80 in the final round in 2011 after leading the Masters following the first three rounds.

He’s a different player now, though.

“Becoming a wily old veteran,” McIlroy said. “Even go back to the final round in 2011, hitting it in that bunker off the tee at the second hole and, like, not panicking, but thinking, ‘oh, this isn’t good.’ I can’t go for this in two. How am I — and I walk up there today, and it’s like, no, I lay it up to a good number, and I’ll have a good chance to make a birdie.”

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AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

The Grand National took place at Aintree at 4pm on Saturday, April 11 – with Paul Townend riding I Am Maximus to a second title at the biggest horse racing event of the seasonal calendar

I Am Maximus has won the 2026 Grand National. It marks the second title that the JP McManus-owned horse has won, joining Tiger Roll in becoming a two-time champion at one of racing’s most prestigious events.

It also sees McManus become the most highly-decorated owner in the event’s history, with four wins at the National.

Here are how the other horses placed at the Grand National…

1st 1 I Am Maximus

2nd 13 Iroko

3rd 28 Jordans

4th 33 Jonnywho

5th 18 High Class Hero

6th 14 Favori De Champdou

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