DOMINIC ELSWORTH faces a race against time to prove his fitness in order to ride in Saturday’s John Smith’s Grand National at Aintree.

Elsworth is due to partner the Charlie Egerton-trained Darkness – a 25-1 chance with most bookmakers following his win at Newbury last month – but is a doubt due to a shoulder injury.

He had scan yesterday which showed that his left shoulder, which he damaged in a fall at Towcester last Thursday, is not broken. But he does have serious bruising which means his participation in the Aintree marathon in jeopardy.

The jockey, who has only completed once in his past six rides in the race, said: “There are no breaks which is good news but there’s severe bruising and I’ll just have to take each day as it comes.

“I saw one of the top shoulder specialists in Cardiff. I’ve had a scan and the bruising is deep inside my shoulder.

“I wouldn’t like to say what my chances are.

“It’s the biggest race in the world. I just have to take it day by day and hope it gets better.

“I’ll probably know a bit more by Wednesday. I just have to rest it and it really is one day at a time.”