Horse that collapsed after Grand National dies

A horse which was ridden in the Grand National until it “appeared to have no more to give” has died.

Celebre D’Allen collapsed towards the end of the steeplechase at Aintree racecourse on Saturday afternoon and received treatment on the course before being taken to stables.

On Tuesday, Philip Hobbs and Johnson White Racing announced the 13-year-old horse had died.

In a statement, the trainers said: “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.”

Jockey Michael Nolan was suspended after riding the horse.

A steward’s report, published by the British Horseracing Authority, said an inquiry was held to consider whether the rider “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 report said: “The rider and the veterinary officer were interviewed, and recordings of the incident were viewed. The rider was suspended for 10 days.”

Safety changes were introduced to the world-famous race in 2024.

In 2023, the start was delayed by 15 minutes after animal rights protesters’ gained access to the Merseyside course.

Horse Hill Sixteen died after falling at the first fence, with his owner later saying the protests contributed to his fall.

A spokesman for Animal Rising, the group which carried out the 2023 demonstration, said on Tuesday: “Celebre D’Allen, like every other victim of the Grand National, deserved a long and peaceful life.

“Instead he was raced to death by an industry driven by greed and profit.

“The blame for his death lies not with any individual but with the ‘sport’ of