Horse dies days after collapsing in Grand National

Celebre D’Allen, one of the horses competing in last weekend’s Grand National, has died.

The 13-year-old pulled up in the showpiece event on Saturday and collapsed on the course. Following assessment by vets he was able to walk onto a horse ambulance, and was held overnight at Aintree Racecourse, with his connections issuing an update on Sunday saying he looked “much brighter”.

However, his trainers Philip Hobbs and Johnson White shared a further update on Tuesday morning, saying that his condition had worsened overnight and he had died.

“We’re heartbroken to share that Celebre D’Allen has passed away,” they wrote on social media.

“He received the very best treatment by the veterinary teams and was improving. However, he deteriorated significantly last night and could not be saved. He was a wonderful horse and we will all miss him greatly.”

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) announced that an inquiry was held after the Grand National to look into whether Celebre D’Allen’s jockey, Micheal Nolan, had continued “when the horse appeared to have no more to give and was clearly losing ground” after the penultimate fence. He was suspended for 10 days after the inquiry.

A statement issued by Aintree Racecourse read: “Celebre D'Allen was a much-loved member of Philip and Johnson's team and all of us at Aintree are deeply saddened by today's news.

“Those who look after British racing's equine athletes every day have a unique bond with their horses and provide the very best care imaginable. Our thoughts are with everyone connected with Celebre D'Allen.”

Brant Dunshea, the BHA’s acting chief executive, also issued a statement following Celebre D’Allen’s death: “All of us at the BHA are saddened to learn of the death of Celebre D’Allen following Saturday’s Randox Grand National. It has been clear to see since Saturday afternoon just how much the horse meant to his connections and we send our condolences to them today.

“The BHA and Aintree Racecourse will analyse the race and this incident in detail, as is the case every year and with every fatal injury in any race. This will include the horse being sent for post-mortem.

“The process of reviewing every fatality allows us to build on our existing data and help us understand how all reasonable avoidable risk can be reduced in order to keep our horses and riders as safe as possible. This process previously led to the changes that were made to the Grand National in 2024, including the reduction in the number of runners. Prior to Saturday's race there had been no fatal injuries in the previous nine races run over the Grand National course since the 2023 National.

“The steps we have taken to improve safety over the years reflect the great respect we have for our horses, and our commitment to their safety.”

The charity Animal Aid described the Grand National Festival as “barbaric” in a social media post. A statement from its director, Iain Green, read: “It is absolutely abhorrent that after racing until he had ‘no more to give’ in the Grand National, Celebre D’Allen has died. To allow a horse of this age to race in the most punishing and notoriously dangerous race on record is criminal, and the responsibility for this falls with the British Horseracing Authority.

“Horses running for their lives is not sport, it is blatant and disturbing animal abuse.”

In total, 18 of the 34 horses riding the Grand National this year either pulled up, fell, or unseated their rider, with just 16 finishing.

Another horse, Broadway Boy, owned by Nigel Twiston-Davies, suffered a hard fall at the 25th fence after leading by a length. Like Celebre D’Allen he was assessed by vets on the course before returning to the stables for further assessment. Willy Twiston-Davies – an assistant trainer and son of Nigel – issued a positive update on Sunday, saying the horse was “coming home”.