Bobbyjo, winner of the 1999 Martell Grand National, will miss this year's big race at Aintree.

The Tommy Carberry-trained 11-year-old faces a lengthy spell out of action after suffering an injury at Fairyhouse on Sunday.

Bobbyjo sustained a fracture at the back of his near-fore knee when finishing eighth behind Northern Sound in the Grand National Trial Handicap.

The vets examined Bobbyjo on Monday morning.

"He's probably going to get a screw put in the bone at the back of his knee," said trainer Carberry whose son Paul rode Bobbyjo to victory at Liverpool two years ago.

Ruled out

"He'll probably go to the vets for the operation but I have to arrange it yet."

Bobbyjo was quoted at 33-1 for this year's Grand National but has now been ruled out of the April 7 contest.

Carberry added: "It will mean he'll be off the course for the best part of a year.

"Hopefully he will come back all right but you never know with this sort of injury."

Irish wait

Bobbyjo ended a 24-year wait for an Irish-trained Grand National winner when beating Blue Charm by 10 lengths at Aintree in 1999.

Sunday's race was the 48th of Bobbyjo's career, during which he has won eight races and earned �357,265 in prize money.

Last year's winner Papillon and 1997 scorer Lord Gyllene are left as the only past Grand National victors who could run in this season's contest.