Born on May 14th, 1992, Derek Fox is an Irish jockey who has been seen around the Northern circuit in Britain for many years. Thanks to his partnership with Lucinda Russell, and a strong relationship with other Northern trainers, Fox has been able to carve out a career riding around those tracks, with the odd bigger success taking him to the main stage from time to time.
It is for that reason, that he isn’t a regular at the likes of Aintree or Cheltenham, but in 2017, he won the biggest race of them all aboard One For Arthur, trained by his closest racing supporter, Lucinda Russell.
There is no doubt that One For Arthur was key in raising his profile, and probably helped him pick up some additional rides afterwards. Trainers are now much more likely to bear him in mind with his second grand national win in 2023 on Corach Rambler. That said, Lusinder Russell is bound to keep him close with his ever blooming career brining in the wins.
Derek Fox Grand National Wins
- 2023 - Corach Rambler trained by Lucinda Russell
- 2017 - One For Arthur trained by Lucinda Russell
Full Results
| Year | Horse | Result | Prize Money | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Corach Rambler | Fence 1 - Unseated Rider | - | Lucinda Russell |
| 2023 | Corach Rambler | 1 | £500,000 | Lucinda Russell |
| 2022 | Mighty Thunder | Fence 24 - Pulled Up | - | Lucinda Russell |
| 2019 | One For Arthur | 6 | £30,000 | Lucinda Russell |
| 2017 | One For Arthur | 1 | £561,300 | Lucinda Russell |
Partnership with One For Arthur
When One For Arthur and Derek Fox crossed the winning line in 2017, they were both doing so in their first attempt to win the Grand National. Fox had never ridden in the race, and One For Arthur was running in the race, and over four miles, for the very first time, but in both instances, you could not tell on the day.
Their partnership, put together by trainer Lucinda Russell, was excellent, and you could clearly see that Fox knew the horse well, and knew how to ride him around the national fences, despite never riding in the race before.
At the end of their race, Fox knew he had plenty left in the tank but was one of four horses to jump the final fence in a line. Straight after the jump, no one could handle the move that One For Arthur made, quickly galloping clear with Fox to go ahead of the field, eventually winning the race by four and a half lengths.
Injury prevented the horse from returning in 2018 to defend his crown, and Fox didn’t have a ride in the race either, despite showing his skills by winning 12 months earlier. The pair were back in 2019 though, after injury and with a lot more weight to carry. They were unable to repeat what happened in 2017 but can be proud of their efforts to get around the course again and finish a very respectable 6th in the race.
Second Grand National Winner On Corach Rambler In 2023
Derek Fox landed his first Grand National winner on his very first ride with One for Arthur in 2017. The pair had a great partnership together, and he’s now won the race on a second horse, another he’s built a great relationship with, and that horse is Corach Rambler.
Before winning the Grand National in 2023, the horse had won twice at the Cheltenham Festival under Fox, both in 2022 and 2023, winning the Ultima Handicap Chase on both occasions. But their victory in the big one at Aintree took the pair to a new level.
Fox was excellent in the race, getting his horse going and sitting just behind the pace before allowing him to settle in midfield and get into a great jumping rhythm. While the drama was happening around them, these pair were going nicely, travelling well and not making any mistakes over the fences.
Towards the end of the race, Fox began to bring his mount through, he was still travelling well and picking off those that were struggling to stay the trip. With every jump, he made more ground because he was taking it better than the horses around him. Third, with two to go, he jumped the final fence and went into the lead, going clear at the start of the run for home.
He looked like he was going on to win by double-figure lengths but idled and wandered a little up the run in, so he never really kicked clear and won in good style. The winning distance was two and a quarter lengths, but the horse never really looked like losing the race.
Much of that was down to jockey Derek Fox keeping him going and interested, as the pair went on to win the race and land Fox his second Grand National.