- 33-1 Broadway Boy had been leading the Grand National for most of the race
- However, the horse took a distressing fall, sparking concern among fans
- It’s understood that the horse is now back recovering at his trainer’s yard
Broadway Boy is back recovering at Nigel Twiston-Davies’s yard after a dreadful fall in the Randox Grand National left a global audience fearing for his life.
The gelding, who was ridden by Tom Bellamy, had led the 34-runner field for much of the race but measured Valentine’s Brook wrong on the second circuit and ended up turning a summersault – it was the kind of tumble that can often have fatal consequences.
Aintree’s veterinary team, headed by Graham Potts, immediately tended to Broadway Boy and spent such time with him that the race, which followed the Grand National was delayed. Happily, the seven-year-old was able to get up and walked onto a horse ambulance.
He spent the night recuperating at Aintree and had done so well that officials allowed him to travel back to Gloucestershire yesterday morning; Bellamy also stayed in Liverpool after breaking his wrist but the pain he felt was eased by the news his partner was on the mend.
Willie Twiston-Davies, assistant to his father, hailed the treatment Broadway Boy had received and said: ‘Aintree did a fantastic job and left no stone unturned. Graham Potts [vet] made sure he was 100 per cent happy before Broadway Boy could be moved.
‘His groom, Laura Scrivener, stayed with him all the time. It’s just time and patience now, but he’s coming home and that made my morning. He is such a special horse to all of us here at Grangehill Farm.’
Broadway Boy suffered a distressing fall during the Grand National at Aintree on Saturday
WARNING DISTRESSING CONTENT
The 33-1 horse (pictured right) was leading the iconic race heading into the 25th furlong
But Broadway Boy took a distressing fall sparking major concern among viewers of the race
The horse (right) appeared to land on its head as his jockey Tom Bellamy was unseated
The news was also similarly positive about Celebre D’Allen, the oldest horse in the field who was pulled up sharply after jumping the last of the 30 fences; the 13-year-old had led turning for home but his stamina ebbed away and he should not have been asked to make the final jump.
It led to his jockey, Michael Nolan, receiving a 10-day ban from racecourse stewards for carrying on when the horse had no more left to give. Nolan had never ridden in the Grand National – which was won by 33/1 shot Nick Rockett – before but has been heavily criticised.
Fortunately Celebre D’Allen spent a comfortable night at Aintree and he will remain in the North West, rather than returning to the Minehead yard of joint-trainers Phillip Hobbs and Johnson White to continue his convalescence.
White said: ‘Things are going in the right way. He can head to a livery yard up there as he’s finished for the season. Hopefully, it’s all positive. I have to say what a fantastic job they did at Aintree. We could not be happier with the care Celebre D’Allen received.’
