Jockey Jason Maguire will miss this year's Grand National to continue his recovery from a back problem.

Maguire won the world's most famous steeplechase on Ballabriggs in 2011, but for the second successive year he will be absent from the lineup at Aintree after deciding to sit out the remainder of the season.

Chris Broad, Maguire's agent, is quoted by Sky Sports News as saying: "He's been having a bit of trouble with his back. He's going to miss the rest of the season and start afresh on around May 1.

"He's been bugged with his back and is going to put it right so he doesn't have any hiccups."

Maguire also missed last month's Cheltenham Festival because of a 14-day ban.