Elsworth steps in to ride National hope Simon

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Thornton, who was going well on the nine-year-old when he tipped up at the sixth from home in last year's big chase, found out that his dislocated shoulder injury, incurred when Soulard fell at Kempton last Saturday, is worse than at first thought.

The 35-year-old, who has been the lynchpin of Robert and Sally Alner's stable over the past decade, faces at least three months on the sidelines.

He said yesterday: "I saw the specialist last night and had an MRI scan but there has been a lot more damage than first thought. I've pulled the muscle off the back of my shoulder and damaged the tendons as well. I'm going to need an operation on it in the not too distant future.

"It's going to be at least three months and the surgeon told me not to be getting any ideas about the National. I'm thinking of targeting August so I'll give it all the time it needs."

Thornton also misses good rides on staying chasers Arnold Layne and Miko de Beauchene both of whom could be aimed at the Scottish Grand National.

John Spearing, trainer of Simon, confirmed that Elsworth would ride, saying: "He rode him first time out last term and he's just got to try and avoid falling like he did last year."

Simon, fourth in last Saturday's Racing Post Chase, will not run before the big race on April 5.