Celebre d’Allen dies days after collapsing in Grand National at Aintree

Celebre d’Allen, the 13-year-old racehorse who collapsed during the closing stages of the Grand National at Aintree, has passed away. His trainers confirmed the news on Tuesday. The veteran gelding had initially shown signs of recovery after receiving treatment from a vet. However, his condition worsened overnight and he could not be saved.

Trained by Philio Hobbs and Johnson White, Celebre was a 125/1 outsider in Saturday’s Grand National. He, as per reports, had led the race with just three fences to go. However, he was pulled up after the final fence and collapsed soon after. He was treated on course and walked into the horse ambulance for further assessment.

Trainer says everyone sad with Celebre d’Allen’s passing

As per reports, White said that the horse was going the right way on Sunday and that he had been moved to a local livery yard for recovery. However, by Tuesday morning, the team announced the heartbreaking news of his passing. White added that everyone was sad with his news.


As per a Guardian report, the stable said that Celebre d’Allen received the best treatment by the vet’s team and was important to everyone. They said that his condition deteriorated significantly last night. They further stated that he was a wonderful horse and will be missed greatly.

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Jockey suspended amid safety concerns

As per the reports, Jockey Micheál Nolan was suspended for 10 days after a stewards’ inquiry. During the inquiry, it was found that Nolan rode the horse despite it showing signs of fatigue after jumping the second-last fence.

Reportedly, the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) stated that all horses in the Grand National undergo thorough vet checks both before and after the race.

Aintree Racecourse and the BHA, expressing sadness over his death, announced that the race and the incident will be analysed in depth as they do with every fatality.

The BHA, the reports added, also highlighted safety improvements made in 2024. They said that they reduced the number of runners to 34 and switched to a standing start.

Criticism from animal welfare groups

According to the reports, the Grand National is one of the most prestigious steeplechases in the world. It has long drawn criticism from animal rights groups due to its challenging course and fatalities. Since the race began in 1839, 89 horses have died during or after the event.

A prominent group called Animal Aid condemned Celebre d’Allen’s death. The group’s spokesperson Nina Copleston-Hawkens called it heartbreaking and said to allow such an aged horse to be ridden in race is disgraceful.

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FAQs

Q: How old was Celebre d'Allen?
Celebre d’Allen was 13 years old and the oldest horse in the 2025 Grand National field.

Q: What actions are being taken after his death?
A: The BHA and Aintree Racecourse will carry out a thorough review and post-mortem as part of their normal procedures in the event of any fatality.