Grand National: O'Dwyer back from injury in time to partner Native Upmanship

Conor O'Dwyer has been passed fit to ride at Aintree on Saturday after recovering from breaking a bone in his left ankle. The Irish jockey will first team up with dual Champion Hurdle winner Hardy Eustace in the Aintree Hurdle and then partner Native Upmanship in the Grand National.

"It's good news - he's had the cast off and it's all systems go. He'll be back in action on Saturday," his wife, Audrey, said. "He's not going to ride on Thursday or Friday so that he can give it four days to recover from having the cast off."

The ground at Aintree started to dry out yesterday with the going on the Grand National course being described last night as good to soft, good in places.

The clerk of the course, Andrew Tulloch, said the Mildmay and hurdles courses were "good, good to soft in places".