THERE are few bigger challenges in the pantheon of great sporting events than attempting to win the Randox Grand National.

Hard as they tried, outstanding champion jockeys like Terry Biddlecombe, Josh Gifford, Stan Mellor, Jonjo O’Neill, John Francome, Peter Scudamore, Charlie Swan and Richard Johnson never managed to lift the world-famous prize in their esteemed riding careers. The latter had a record 21 attempts without success, it famously took A.P. McCoy 15 tries to notch his sole win in the Aintree feature and Davy Russell needed 14 goes before making the breakthrough on Tiger Roll in 2018.

The Grand National has eluded many of the sport’s top horsemen, but not Derek Fox. Victory for Corach Rambler in last weekend’s dramatic Liverpool highlight may have been hailed primarily as a coup for Scotland - understandably given the Lucinda Russell-trained favourite’s connections - but the remarkable achievements of his Irish rider should not be underestimated.

Fox, the 30-year-old from Sligo town who plies his trade across Scotland and the north of England, has now won the world’s most famous race twice in the space of six runnings. The magnitude of entering such territory is not lost on him.

“It’s hard to believe,” says Fox, reflecting on the clearcut Aintree success after a morning’s work at Russell’s yard earlier this week.

“I couldn’t get my head around winning it for the first time with One For Arthur [in 2017] and for it to happen again doesn’t seem real. Honestly, it’s surreal.

“It’s great to watch it back again now that everything has calmed down. It gives me a lot of satisfaction to look at, although riding the National winner was nearly easier than watching it! I was up towards the front and missed a lot of the bad luck in running that other riders got. It got a smooth run around, really. It was just terrific stuff.

“I wasn’t convinced heading into the race as to how brave Corach would be over the fences, wondering whether he’d be too careful because he settles away in his races. He’s very clever, though, and knew exactly what was required after jumping the first couple. He just popped away, knew how to size them all up and was never in doubt.”

Injury worry

There was certainly doubt, however, over whether Fox would manage to ride at Aintree last Saturday after his mount Rowdy Rustler failed to lift a leg at the sixth fence in a Wetherby handicap chase just a week before the National. The spill left his rider with a damaged collarbone.

Dual champion jockey Brian Hughes was even lined up on standby for the ride on Corach Rambler, and Fox forfeited the remainder of his Aintree Festival rides. That meant missing out on Ahoy Senor’s cracking second to Shishkin in the Grade 1 Alder Hey Aintree Bowl and a win for Apple Away in the Grade 1 Cavani Sefton Novices’ Hurdle.

Fox did have a history when it came to pre-National injury scares. though. His 2017 triumph on One For Arthur came only after managing to narrowly get back from - coincidentally - another broken collarbone and fractured wrist from a fall the month before at Carlisle.

“It was a worrying time the week leading up to the National,” admits Fox, who partners live contender Your Own Story in Saturday’s Coral Scottish Grand National (3.35).

“I knew when I hit the ground at Wetherby that I was very sore, but it wasn’t as much the pain as it was the worry of not passing the doctor for the following week, with such little time to go. The Grand National isn’t a race that you want to go into at anything other than 100%.

“I spoke to Lucinda and Peter [Scudamore, assistant trainer] about it, and they were happy for me not to ride until the following week so I didn’t injure it worse. They were very good to let me do that, and it made all the difference.

“Of course, I was watching Ahoy Senor and Apple Away and you’re not sure in that moment if you’ve made the right decision. I was questioning myself if I should have rode on because you’re banking on a big gamble coming right for you in the National while missing out on good Grade 1 rides. I made my decision and would have to live with it, though. I couldn’t miss the ride on Corach. Thankfully it all worked out.”

Pre-race drama

On the delay to the National due to protestors invading Aintree, Fox adds: “Without any protests or delays, Grand National day is already a long one for jockeys. Everyone gets there early, making sure you avoid all the traffic and hear all the briefings for riders in terms of protocols for the day. It’s not just me, I think everyone was getting frustrated at the delay in there.

“You get in a mindset all day that you’re to go out at a certain time, so when you’re told to wait the extra minutes feel like forever. We didn’t have to stay there too long in the end but it was an uncertain time in there, not knowing how long it was going to take. It was not ideal at all but we got through it.

“I know everyone says it about good horses, but Corach is the most laid-back and likeable horse you’ll ever work with. He never broke sweat beforehand and walked around as calmly as you like at the start. When we kept turning and turning before the tapes he never got into a panic. He’s got a great attitude and temperament. He’s a pleasure to work with.”

Both in his riding and overall demeanour, there is a sense of maturity evident in Fox’s make-up these days - something that was picked up on by former weighing room colleague Davy Russell when speaking to the rider at Aintree last Saturday.

You won’t find him with an active Twitter account or getting caught up in the hype of the big occasion. He speaks straight in the Sligo accent he never lost and recently revealed his increasing love of reading instead of watching television, a major turnaround from the time he left school aged 14 when said to be dyslexic.

High praise

Speaking on Racing TV’s Luck On Sunday programme last weekend, the recently-retired Russell said: “Derek told me on Saturday that he doesn’t drink as much as he used to, that he feels much better and is enjoying it much more nowadays. You could see it in him that he’s a happier guy.

“I really enjoy his company in the weighing room because he’s quiet, but when you ask him something he responds with that deep, Sligo voice. He’s just a good character and a great guy.

“I think he’s a marvellous horseman. I’ve been saying it all along. If I was running a horse in the morning and needing a jockey I’d have no bother putting up Derek. I think he’s a beautiful jockey. He’s the epitome of riding National Hunt horses, getting them to relax and jump in a nice rhythm. He’s brilliant when it matters.”

That is high praise from a rider with legendary status, and Fox has already ridden his highest number of winners in a single season this term (his haul of 38 being four more winners than last season from five fewer rides). Does he feel his performances have reached another level of late?

“It’s hard for me to comment on my own riding,” says the rider who partnered his first of 32 Irish winners under rules at Sligo in May 2010 on the Noel Kelly-trained Mighty Whitey.

“I think it’s like anything; if you’re not learning something with age you probably have your eyes closed. There’s always something to be learned. I hope I am improving a wee bit and I’m always looking for little ways to improve, but I think it comes down to the horses. Riding for a top yard is key, really. You get on the good horses and they naturally make your life easier.

“As you get older, life teaches you a lot of things. It teaches you that everything happens for a reason and it’d be silly to think you should be anywhere else other than where you are. You really have to appreciate when you get nice winners or when life has been good to you. It has to be enjoyed.”

Good grounding

That understanding of racing’s peaks and troughs comes from a solid equine upbringing alongside his uncle, trainer Mark McNiff, in Sligo. Co Derry handler Noel Kelly was also a key backer in Fox’s early career. This October marks 10 years since he took the plunge and moved to Russell’s Scottish base.

“I had great days with Mark and Noel in Ireland,” he recalls. “There were also some great trips over and back to Hexham and other tracks like that in the UK - those journeys across on the boat gave me some brilliant memories.

“I was always a very realistic person when it came to ambitions in racing. I think I’ve always been aware that success is not something that should be taken lightly. I was always well tuned in and paying attention to what was happening around me, growing up with Mark there.

“It’s tough to achieve things, and if you want to be good in this game you’ve got to work hard. It takes a lot of hard work and a lot of luck. I always hoped I’d find a good horse some day. Luckily enough, I’ve ridden a few very good horses in my career, and that’s what makes the difference.

“At the time I first moved across I was fairly fond of home and didn’t know if I’d settle and fit in. Those first few years, you would miss home, but I’m very much settled in by now and love the place. It’s brilliant the way everything is done at Lucinda’s. They’re brilliant to work with.

“Lucinda works extremely hard. She’s up feeding the horses herself at 5.30am - she’s the first person in the yard when she could have someone else doing that for her. She’s got a very strong work ethic and is very good at buying the horses herself. She goes through all the sales and really scouts well.

“Growing up, my dream was always just to ride in the Grand National. For Lucinda and Scu to give me the opportunities in my career, and being able to win two Grand Nationals, it’s surreal, really. I owe it all to Lucinda.”

With £17,000 point-to-point bargain buy Corach Rambler taking his form to new heights at Aintree, a tilt at next year’s Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup could be on the horizon and Fox does not think he would look out of place in such company.

He says: “I won’t comment too much on where I think he should go, but if they decided to run him in a Gold Cup he’d be a very worthy contender. He’s a marvellous horse and any time he’s given a big task he seems to have the answer. He’s been an absolute superstar for me. He’s very special.

“I try not to hit the front on him too soon, but on a few occasions I have and he’s got me out of trouble. He threatens to pull up but hasn’t done it yet. He must have a lot of ability because he does wait on other horses.”

Corach Rambler waited for no one in last weekend’s Randox Grand National. He and his rider continue to rise to the occasion when it matters most.