Grand National runner dies days after collapsing at race as jockey handed ban
Grand National horse Celebre D’Allen has passed away two days after collapsing during the race at Aintree. The 13-year-old horse, who was a 125/1 outsider trained by Philip Hobbs and Johnson White, appeared to weaken as the race reached it’s climax and required veterinary observation. Celebre d’Allen died after collapsing at the Grand NationalPA PAStatements have also been released by the trainer[/caption] Hobbs and White took to X on Tuesday to inform fans of the tragic news. The post read: “We’re heartbroken to share that Celebre D’Allen has passed away. He received the very best treatment by the veterinary teams and was improving,’ said Philip Hobbs and Johnson White Racing in a statement on Tuesday morning. “However, he deteriorated significantly last night and could not be saved. He was a wonderful horse and we will all miss him greatly.” Jockey Micheal Nolan was given a 10-day ban by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) after it was judged that he had breached riding rules by continuing on a horse that was visibly struggling. Celebre D’Allen had made a bright start to the race but began to deteriorate after the second-last fence, however, Nolan continued to ride before stopping after jumping the final fence. The horse made its way into the ambulance before undergoing a series of tests. Celebre D’Allen appeared to be in good spirits in a social media post on Sunday prompting hopes of a full recovery. Hobbs and White’s X account posted a video of the horse alongside the caption: ‘Celebre D’Allen bright and breezy this morning @AintreeRaces after running so well in the Grand National.’ In light of the news, Aintree Racecourse posted their own tribute to the horse/ The statement 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.” Meanwhile, The British Horseracing Authority posted a detailed statement which read: “All of us at the BHA are saddened to learn of the death of Celebre d’Allen following Saturday’s 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.” “As with all runners in the Grand National, Celebre D’Allen was provided with a thorough check by vets at the racecourse. This health check includes a trot up, physical examination of limbs to check for any heat, pain or swelling, and listening to the heart to check for any murmur or rhythm disturbance. “This marks the final step in an extensive process of checks to ensure a horses’ suitability to race in the National, which also includes a review of veterinary records and assessment by a Panel of experts to consider a horse’s race record and suitability to race. As part of this process the horse would also have been examined by the trainer’s own vet on the two occasions, a month apart. “Celebre D’Allen received treatment from the team of expert vets after pulling up and then collapsing towards the end of the race. “Having been immediately attended to by the teams on site, he was given all the time he needed to respond to treatment on course before being transported back to the first-class veterinary facilities at the racecourse stables, where he remained overnight, continuing to receive care and attention. The Grand National has long been opposed by animal rights organisations “He subsequently travelled to a nearby stud which was connected to the horse’s owners on Sunday, having shown improvement overnight. “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. Animal rights organisers had slammed the race in the wake of Broadway Boy’s fall while at the front of the pack and the subsequent collapse of Celebre d’Allen. In a statement on Tuesday Animal Aid’s Nina Copleston-Hawkens described Celebre d’Allen’s death ‘was ‘absolutely heartbreaking’, before adding: “To allow a horse of this age to be ridden in the most gruelling race in the country is disgraceful.”
Grand National horse Celebre D’Allen has passed away two days after collapsing during the race at Aintree.
The 13-year-old horse, who was a 125/1 outsider trained by Philip Hobbs and Johnson White, appeared to weaken as the race reached it’s climax and required veterinary observation.
Hobbs and White took to X on Tuesday to inform fans of the tragic news.
The post read: “We’re heartbroken to share that Celebre D’Allen has passed away. He received the very best treatment by the veterinary teams and was improving,’ said Philip Hobbs and Johnson White Racing in a statement on Tuesday morning.
“However, he deteriorated significantly last night and could not be saved. He was a wonderful horse and we will all miss him greatly.”
Jockey Micheal Nolan was given a 10-day ban by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) after it was judged that he had breached riding rules by continuing on a horse that was visibly struggling.
Celebre D’Allen had made a bright start to the race but began to deteriorate after the second-last fence, however, Nolan continued to ride before stopping after jumping the final fence.
The horse made its way into the ambulance before undergoing a series of tests.
Celebre D’Allen appeared to be in good spirits in a social media post on Sunday prompting hopes of a full recovery.
Hobbs and White’s X account posted a video of the horse alongside the caption: ‘Celebre D’Allen bright and breezy this morning @AintreeRaces after running so well in the Grand National.’
In light of the news, Aintree Racecourse posted their own tribute to the horse/
The statement 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.”
Meanwhile, The British Horseracing Authority posted a detailed statement which read: “All of us at the BHA are saddened to learn of the death of Celebre d’Allen following Saturday’s 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.”
“As with all runners in the Grand National, Celebre D’Allen was provided with a thorough check by vets at the racecourse. This health check includes a trot up, physical examination of limbs to check for any heat, pain or swelling, and listening to the heart to check for any murmur or rhythm disturbance.
“This marks the final step in an extensive process of checks to ensure a horses’ suitability to race in the National, which also includes a review of veterinary records and assessment by a Panel of experts to consider a horse’s race record and suitability to race. As part of this process the horse would also have been examined by the trainer’s own vet on the two occasions, a month apart.
“Celebre D’Allen received treatment from the team of expert vets after pulling up and then collapsing towards the end of the race.
“Having been immediately attended to by the teams on site, he was given all the time he needed to respond to treatment on course before being transported back to the first-class veterinary facilities at the racecourse stables, where he remained overnight, continuing to receive care and attention.
“He subsequently travelled to a nearby stud which was connected to the horse’s owners on Sunday, having shown improvement overnight.
“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.
Animal rights organisers had slammed the race in the wake of Broadway Boy’s fall while at the front of the pack and the subsequent collapse of Celebre d’Allen.
In a statement on Tuesday Animal Aid’s Nina Copleston-Hawkens described Celebre d’Allen’s death ‘was ‘absolutely heartbreaking’, before adding: “To allow a horse of this age to be ridden in the most gruelling race in the country is disgraceful.”
