ITV presenter Ed Chamberlin has credited Aintree staff with helping to save two horses who came into difficulty at the Grand National. Broadway Boy ran prominently for much of the contest but took a horrific fall at the 25th fence. He received immediate care on the track before walking into a horse ambulance for further treatment.
Celebre D’Allen, meanwhile, collapsed on the course after he was pulled up towards the end of the race. He also walked into a horse ambulance before heading back to his stables for more treatment. His jockey, Micheal Nolan, was later handed a 10-day suspension for not pulling up the horse earlier on.
Writing in his Daily Mail column, Chamberlin praised the Aintree ground staff for ‘working miracles’ to provide safe ground which may have prevented the horses from suffering any further.
“We cannot avoid the fact that danger remains a part of the Grand National,” he said. “These horses are bred to race and we know there are risks, but Aintree have moved with the times consistently to ensure the jeopardy has been tackled.
“The ground staff, for instance, worked miracles to provide safe ground. It was an incredible spectacle. A Willie Mullins 1-2-3, a triumph for his son, Patrick, and an outcome that Stewart Andrew will never forget.”
ITV were widely criticised for their coverage of the incidents involving Broadway Boy and Celebre D’Allen. Viewers were understandably worried about the two horses, but updates were not given until around 30 minutes after the race had finished.
Updating viewers, Chamberlin said: “All jockeys absolutely okay. An initial update following the Grand National reads as follows: Broadway Boy and Celebre D’Allen are being assessed by expert veterinary teams. Further updates will follow in due course.”
Nick Rockett emerged victorious for trainer Willie Mullins, but the afternoon was overshadowed by the worrying scenes for Broadway Boy and Celebre D’Allen.
Animal rights groups reacted furiously, with Ben Newman of Animal Rising telling The Guardian: “When the public sees the grim reality and suffering within horse racing, they rightfully recoil.”
Meanwhile, the organisation Animal Aid said they were ‘disgusted and appalled that Broadway Boy suffered a horrific fall in the Grand National race’.
They added: “The racing industry, rather than give the public an update on his wellbeing, had the gall to spout empty rhetoric about the ‘welfare’ of race horses.”
Express Sport have approached ITV for comment.