Grand National winner Ryan Mania airlifted to hospital

Grand National winning jockey Ryan Mania’s joy turned to pain when he ended up in hospital less than 24 hours after his victory at Aintree.

Scotsman Mania, 23, was airlifted from Hexham racecourse after he was injured when his horse Stagecoach Jasper fell in the St John Lee Handicap Hurdle.

He is waiting for hospital scans to show how serious the injuries are to his head and neck. Only hours before the fall he had been posing for photographs with the 66-1 National winner Auroras Encore.

Stagecoach Jasper came down in the 3.10 race and Mania was struck between the shoulder blades by another horse. There were worrying scenes when Mania, from Galashiels in the Borders, was treated on the track for 25 minutes.

He was placed aboard the helicopter on a spinal board and the Air Ambulance Service said the jockey had neck and back injuries assessed by the on-board doctor as “severe/serious”.

But they said he was in a stable condition when he arrived at the Royal Victoria Infirmary.

Mania himself tweeted last night: “Thanks so much for all the messages. I’m grand. Staying in hospital to get another scan tomorrow then should be home. #highsandlows.”