GRAND NATIONAL-WINNING jockey Jason Maguire will miss this year's race (April 11) for the second season in a row as he sits out the remainder of the campaign to recover from injury.
Birdlip-based Maguire, who gained Aintree glory on Ballabriggs in 2011, has been plagued with a back problem which the rider is having treated so he can begin next season with a clean bill of health.
Maguire, who rides regularly for Andoversford trainer Kim Bailey, damaged his back in a fall at Catterick last month but would have missed Cheltenham anyway because of a 14-day ban.
This is the second year running Maguire has missed both the Cheltenham and Aintree Festivals after a shocking fall at Stratford on the eve of Cheltenham in 2014 left him with serious injuries, including internal bleeding and a fractured sternum.
Maguire told the Racing Post: "I am going to see a specialist on Wednesday evening. "I think I will have to have an operation on my back on the slipped discs. It is something I have got to get sorted out."
Maguire had ridden 64 winners this season.
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