NORMAN WILLIAMSON was yesterday reported "in good form and on course to ride in the Grand National despite Sunday's heavy fall at Leopardstown, when he suffered hand and eye injuries in a tumble from Arctic Buck in the Kilgobbin Beginners Chase.

He was released from hospital on Sunday night and was getting further treatment in Lambourn last night. His agent Dave Roberts said yesterday: "I spoke to Norman this morning and he is very well and in good form. I am very confident he will be OK for Aintree.

"He is stood down for seven days due to concussion but he sees Dr Michael Foy tonight and we should have more idea by the weekend how long he will be off."

Williamson appears to have had a lucky escape. Turf Club medical officer Dr Walter Halley, who attended the stricken jockey straight after the fall, said: "He was initially unconscious but had come round when I got down to the fence. How ever, he was fully conscious when we lifted him from the track and with a police escort they were soon at the hospital."

Initially, it was feared that Williamson could have fractured his right wrist, an injury that could have kept him out for between six weeks and two months.