National jockey hoping to leave hospital

Grand National winning jockey Ryan Mania hopes to leave hospital on Monday after being injured in a fall less than 24 hours after his dramatic victory at Aintree. Mania, 23, suffered a nasty fall on his return to action on Sunday after winning the National on the Sue Smith-trained 66-1 outsider Auroras Encore. The Scottish rider was riding Stagecoach Jasper, also trained by Smith, in a handicap hurdle at Hexham, northeast England, when he hit the deck on the final circuit. Mania received what appeared to be a kick between his shoulder blades and was described as very sore before being taken by air ambulance to hospital in Newcastle for tests on neck and back injuries. He later tweeted that he was feeling "grand" and was awaiting a further MRI scan. Although he has yet to have that examination, his agent Bruce Jeffrey said Mania was still hoping to leave hospital on Monday. "I've spoken to him... he's in good spirits and is hoping to go home today," Jeffrey said. "He's still waiting for his scan, which will hopefully be OK, and if it is, he will then be able to go home later today." From: AFP