Rachel Blackmore is reportedly unhurt following a nasty fall on day one of the Grand National meet. The Irish jockey fell during the Boodles Anniversary Juvenile Hurdle and was seen by an ambulance on-site at Aintree Racecourse. 

Blackmore had been riding Willy De Houelle when she came off, with the horse having suffered a fatal fall as a result. There had also been concern for Blackmore, who looked shaken up by the incident, with it later confirmed she had been forced to seek medical attention. 

However, following a check-up, it appears the Tipperary native hasn't sustained any serious injuries, with Blackmore said to be okay following the fall. Offering an update on Blackmore's condition, Joe Chambers, racing manager to winning owners Rich and Susannah Ricci, told Racing TV: “It’s a shame about Constitution Hill [who also fell during Thursday's action], that’s twice it has happened to them and we know all about fallers – we lost Willy De Houelle sadly, another great young horse, in the first race and thankfully Rachael [Blackmore] is OK." 

Speaking during ITV Racing's coverage of the meet, presenter Ed Chamberlin said moments after the race: “Rachael Blackmore walked into the ambulance, looked pretty sore doing so. Hopefully, she will be okay. News on her horse as soon as we get it.”

Before, unfortunately, adding: “More now on our last race I’m afraid, news has filtered through that Willy De Houelle, I’m afraid, suffered a fatal injury in that race. Our thoughts with the Richis [owners], we hope Rachael is okay and Willie Mullins, that will take the gloss off of him winning that contest. That’s sad news coming out of the Juvenile Hurdle.”

Elsewhere, on day one at Aintree, it was another disappointing outing for Constitution Hill, who fell for a second consecutive meet following last month's Cheltenham Festival disaster. Reacting to the fall, trainer Nicky Henderson mused: "It is [heartbreaking]. To do it twice, you couldn’t believe it. He [Constitution Hill] is genuinely the best jumper you’ll ever see. There is just this one per cent chance of doing what he’s done, but he’s done it twice.

“It does worry you, of course it does. But how can you iron it out? He’d been fantastic the whole way, there were a couple of hurdles, I haven’t seen it properly at all, where he went in short. A year ago he’d have [gestured to going fast]. He was good and he was shortening up. That’s what we were trying to get him to do. When you’re three out and racing like that, you can’t afford to do that, you’ve got to go.”

Racing continues from Aintree on Friday, with the Grand National pencilled in for Saturday afternoon.