Ben Jones came third in the Aintree Grand National this year aboard Jordans but admits that he was left feeling sick after watching back the race.
“Sick In The Stomach” – Ben Jones After Grand National Third
Welsh jockey Ben Jones was having just his second ride in the Aintree Grand National and it very nearly could have been a special one.
It looked as if he had slipped the field aboard the Joseph O’Brien-trained Jordans but in the end he was passed by I Am Maximus.
Jones was clear with half-a-furlong to go but it wasn’t to be and many questioned his ride post-race. Although he probably did all he could on the 28/1 shot.
WATCH: I Am Maximus Goes By Ben Jones & Jordans (Blue/Yellow)
🏆 I Am Maximus REGAINS the Randox Grand National! 🏆
The first horse since Red Rum to do so! @PTownend | @WillieMullinsNH pic.twitter.com/k5tHGTvuYm
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) April 11, 2026
Jones was speaking about the race to Ladbrokes:
“I watched the replay, and I don’t think anyone would’ve felt more sick than me at Aintree. If I could have a re-run, I’d do things a lot differently. At the time, I was delighted, but after watching the replay and looking at how the race developed, it was completely different from how it felt, which annoyed me.
“Genuinely, driving home, I was sick in the stomach all the way. There was no other feeling. You don’t get many chances in the National, and all I was thinking was that my chance and I threw it away. You always wonder what you could’ve done differently when you don’t win a race, but with it being the national, it obviously hurt a little bit more.
“That’s just how horse racing is sometimes. Joseph was as sound as he could be with me, and he’s got a nice one to look forward to next year. For me, it was just a bit of a kick in the teeth in the end, but I’ve got to see it as a brilliant learning curve, a wonderful experience, and it just means I’ll have to give it another go in the next few years.”
It’s Still Been A Great Season For Ben Jones
The National might not have gone the way he’d of hoped, but Jones has still had his best season yet.
He won the King George aboard The Jukebox Man on Boxing Day and even had a winner at the Cheltenham Festival. He steered Meetmebythesea home for boss Ben Pauling in the Jack Richards.
WATCH: The Jukebox Man Wins King George
And above all, Jones also reached 100 winners for the season – although he couldn’t catch fellow Welshman Sean Bowen – who will be crowned Champion Jockey this weekend.
After this year’s heartbreak, there’s no doubt that we’ll see Jones riding in the 2027 Grand National next season.
