BOBBYJO DENIED ANOTHER NATIONAL BID Bobbyjo, winner of the 1999 Martell Grand National, will miss Aintree and faces a lengthy spell on the easy list after suffering an injury at Fairyhouse on Sunday. The Tommy Carberry-trained 11-year-old sustained a fracture at the back of his near-fore knee when finishing eighth behind Northern Sound in the Grand National Trial Handicap. The vets checked Bobbyjo over this morning and Carberry said: 'He`s probably going to get a screw put in the bone at the back of his knee. 'He`ll probably go to the vets for the operation but I have to arrange it yet.' Bobbyjo was quoted at 33-1 for this year`s Grand National but has now been ruled out of the April 7th contest. Carberry added: 'It`ll mean he`ll be off the course for the best part of a year. Hopefully he`ll come back all right but you never know with this sort of injury.' Bobbyjo ended a 24-year wait for an Irish-trained Grand National winner when beating Blue Charm by 10 lengths at Aintree in 1999, ridden by the trainer`s son Paul. Sunday`s race was the 48th of Bobbyjo`s career, during which he has won eight races and earned £357,265 in prize money. Last year`s winner Papillon and 1997 scorer Lord Gyllene are left as the only past Grand National victors who could run in this season`s contest.
