Celebre d’Allen, a 13-year-old gelding who collapsed after running in the Grand National on Saturday, has died. The horse, a 125-1 chance, led the field with three fences to jump but tired and was pulled up on the run-in before collapsing while being walked in by the veterinary team on the home straight.
Jockey Micheal Nolan was suspended for ten days after stewards ruled he continued to race when the horse 'had no more to give' and was clearly losing ground after the second last fence. The horse initially appeared to improve after a night under observation at the racecourse stables, but deteriorated significantly on Monday night and could not be saved.
Co-trainer Johnson White said: 'He had the best possible care, but he just took a downturn overnight and very sadly he’s passed away. It’s gutting for everyone here, it’s very quiet here this morning as you can imagine.' The stable announced the news on X, stating they were 'heartbroken'.
Aintree Racecourse expressed deep sadness, noting that Celebre d’Allen was a 'much-loved member' of the team. The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) said it would carry out a thorough review of the race and the incident, including a post-mortem. BHA acting chief executive Brant Dunshea said the regulator was 'saddened' and highlighted that no fatal injuries had occurred in the previous nine races over the Grand National course since 2023.
Broadway Boy, another horse treated on course after a heavy fall, has returned to his stables. There were no other casualties.
