Celebre d’Allen collapsed on the racecourse, but following treatment, he was able to walk into the ambulance
Celebre d’Allen collapsed on the racecourse, but following treatment, he was able to walk into the ambulance
08:01, 06 Apr 2025Updated 08:04, 06 Apr 2025
A Grand National jockey has been suspended for 10 days after continuing to ride his horse, Celebre d’Allen, which appeared to have “no more to give” in the 4pm race. Broadway Boy and Celebre d’Allen were both being assessed by vets following their runs in the Randox Grand National.
The Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained Broadway Boy raced prominently for a long way in the four-and-a-quarter-mile marathon before taking a horrible-looking fall at the 25th fence. He received immediate care on the track for some time after the race had finished, with the 5pm contest delayed by over 10 minutes as treatment continued.
Broadway Boy was reported by Jockey Club Racecourses, who operate Aintree, to have walked into the horse ambulance before being taken to the racecourse stables for further assessment. Celebre d’Allen was sent off a 125-1 shot under Micheal Nolan, with the rider pulling up the Philip Hobbs and Johnson White-trained runner after jumping the final fence.
The 13-year-old then collapsed on the racecourse, but following treatment, he was able to walk into the ambulance to be taken back to the stables for veterinary care.
The British Horseracing Authority said: “Both horses received immediate and extensive treatment by the vets, also calling on the first class facilities and various teams on site.
“This treatment and assessment will continue into the evening.” The stewards banned Nolan for 10 days (April 19 to April 26 and May 3 and 5) after inquiring into his decision to continue to ride Celebre d’Allen after jumping the penultimate fence.
A stewards’ report read: “An inquiry was held to consider whether Micheal Nolan, the rider of Celebre d’Allen, had continued in the race when the horse appeared to have no more to give and was clearly losing ground after the second-last fence.
“The rider and the veterinary officer were interviewed, and recordings of the incident were viewed. The rider was suspended for 10 days.”
Broadway Boy’s rider Tom Bellamy was also taken to hospital following his fall.
Over £2 million has been invested into the racecourse and equine safety measures in the last decade alone. The Grand National is a unique challenge for horse and rider, but one which has evolved with time to reduce avoidable risk as much as possible, while retaining the character of the race.
A total of 59,920 racegoers enjoyed Randox Grand National Day at Aintree Racecourse today, the third and final day of the Randox Grand National Festival, bringing the total for the three-day meeting to 131,004.
Thirty four runners lined up for the 177th running of the world’s greatest steeplechase, with a total of 16 completing the race won by Nick Rockett, for owner Stewart Andrew, trainer Willie Mullins and jockey Patrick Mullins.
Speaking after racing, Dickon White, The Jockey Club’s Regional Director for Aintree and the North West, said: “Today’s Randox Grand National was every bit as emotional, dramatic and thrilling as the 176 previous runnings of the race, capping off three days of brilliant racing in the Liverpool sunshine.
“The Mullins racing dynasty continues to carry all before them and on behalf of everyone at Aintree, I would like to congratulate Patrick and Willie on another historic achievement with Nick Rockett.
“It has capped off a brilliant week on course and I’d like to thank everyone who joined us for what has been a week to remember.”
