Derek Fox: Profile, Winners, Record & Horses

Derek Fox is a two-time winner of the Grand National, having ridden One For Arthur to glory in 2017 and repeated the trick on board Corach Rambler six years later.

Fox claimed the biggest win of his career for trainer Lucinda Russell eight years ago and together they repeated the feat with Corach Rambler.

Age: 32

Height: 5ft 9in

Wins: 310

Cheltenham wins: 4

Total winnings: £2,820,996

About Derek Fox

Derek Fox is a National Hunt jockey best known for his exploits in the Aintree Grand National, twice winning the world's most iconic steeplechase.

Born in Co Sligo in Ireland, Fox left school aged 14 with little in the way of reading ability having been diagnosed as dyslexic in his youth.

He says he later became a self-taught reader in his early 20s and now reads extensively, focusing on autobiographies, which help him to 'learn about life'.

He has spent the last decade and more based with trainer Lucinda Russell at her yard in Scotland and they have enjoyed notable success together.

Derek Fox Height

Fox is 5ft 9" in height, above average for a jumps jockey.

Derek Fox Achievements

Alongside his two landmark wins in the Grand National at Aintree, Fox has won two races at the Cheltenham Festival.

Both wins came via Corach Rambler, as they bagged successive renewals of the Ultima Handicap Chase in 2022 and 2023.

A horse who famously likes to come from behind in his races, Corach Rambler was given a superb ride by Fox in the 2022 race, weaving his way through traffic to come and nick the win close home.

A year later, it was plain sailing as Corach Rambler tanked into contention, leaving his rider with only a worry about getting to the front too soon before they held off subsequent dual Grade 1 winner Fastorslow to win by a neck.

Derek Fox Associated Trainers

Fox is most commonly associated with Lucinda Russell and her team at Arlary House Stables near Kinross in Scotland. The Sligo-born rider began his career in the saddle riding primarily for his uncle Mark McNiff and Co Derry-based trainer Noel Kelly.

He picks up plenty of rides on the northern circuit, with Sandy Thomson and Adam Duncan among his regular supporters.

Derek Fox Significant Horses

The starting point will always be One For Arthur, the horse on which Fox enjoyed his breakthrough moment, winning the Grand National at Aintree in 2017.

The 14/1 shot charged clear to finish ahead of Cause Of Causes and Saint Are as the favourite Blaklion, who led for much of the contest, was fourth.

The win was just the second in the race by a Scottish-trained horse since Rubstic's victory in 1979 and he carried the colours of winning owners Deborah Thomson and Belinda McClung, who went under the name The Two Golf Widows.

In 2023, Fox did it again, this time on Corach Rambler as they justified 8/1 favouritism in the big race, getting to the front at the second last and holding off Vanillier as defending champion Noble Yeats was fourth in the 175th running of the great race.   

An honourable mention is also due to Ahoy Senor. Fox has partnered him in all six career wins, with some big days along the way.

They won the Grade 1 Sefton Novices' Hurdle at Aintree in 2021, causing a 66/1 shock as Bravemansgame could finish only second following a fine front-running display from Fox and his willing partner.

The following season, Ahoy Senor stormed to victory in the Grade 2 John Francome Novices' Chase at Newbury, while he also beat future Grand National winner Noble Yeats in the Towton Novices' Chase at Wetherby.

His love affair with Aintree was continued when Ahoy Senor won the Grade 1 Mildmay Novices' Chase in April 2022 and they would go on to land the Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham in January 2023.