Grand National 2018: Trainer Tom George provides update on Saint Are following nasty Aintree fall

The 12-year-old needed treatment after falling at the Chair

Saint Are suffered a nasty fall during the Grand National and needed treatment afterwards (Getty)

Saint Are has returned to his Gloucestershire stables following the nasty fall in the Grand National on Saturday that raised fears for his life, with trainer Tom George confirming that the racehorse had a “comfortable night”.

Thirty-seven of the 38-horse field returned to the stables without concern, but fears rose around Saint Are after he suffered two falls during Saturday’s Grand National at Aintree.

Organisers reported that Saint Are had fallen at the Chair on the opening lap before continuing without jockey Ciaran Gethings, only to fall again at the first fence on the second lap. After being treated on the course, he was then walked back to the stables for further assessment, but good news came through on Sunday and the Bay-Gelding has since returned to his stables in Slad.

“He had a good, comfortable night,” George said. “They looked after him well at Aintree. His lad stayed up with him and the vets checked him every few hours.

"He's eaten his breakfast and he's ready to come home. It's good news. He walked out brighter this morning [Sunday]. I just think he was a bit shaken.

"He's feeling good about it and we're looking forward to getting him home."

The news is a relief given that there were concerns for Saint Are’s condition in the immediate of Saturday’s race – which was won by the Gordon Elliott-trained Tiger Roll – as television footage showed the field missing the 22nd fence with curtains put up in the landing zone. However, it was revealed that they were actually for jockey Charlie Deutsch, who fell off Alpha Des Obeaux and was later confirmed as fine.