Carl Llewellyn, a member of the Twiston-Davies team who looks after Grand National faller Broadway Boy, has released an update on the horse’s condition. The two-time National-winning rider has hinted that the seven-year-old would have a “lovely retirement” if he is to never run again.
The gelding took a severe fall over the second jumping of Valentines on Saturday and was attended to by veterinary professionals on track before walking into a horse ambulance. Last night, it was reported that vets were ‘happy’ with the son of Malinas’ condition, and connections were ‘hopeful’ he’d be ok. This morning, Willy Twiston-Davies, assistant to trainer Nigel, revealed that Broadway Boy would be returning home. Now, former jockey Llewellyn has expressed his hope for the horse and suggested that the seven-year-old could enjoy a lovely retirement were he to never race again.
“He seems okay at the moment,” Llewellyn admitted on Nick Luck’s Luck on Sunday. “They’ve done loads of tests on him overnight and this morning, and they’re bringing him home.
When host Luck asked Llewellyn if the gelding was well enough to travel, he replied: “Yeah, so that’s the good news. Hopefully, he’ll be okay. And he’ll have a lovely retirement if he’s not well enough to run again. He’d have a lovely retirement.”
Many were critical of the lack of immediate updates on Broadway Boy’s condition post-race, but Llewellyn admitted that the time taken to address the horse’s state was necessary.
“Yeah, it’s surprising how desperate people are to know when we don’t know ourselves,” he added. “We want to know. But we’ve got to let the vets do their job and see what they say.”
An update given this morning shared Llewellyn’s hope, as assistant Twiston-Davies wrote on X: “Thank you for all the lovely messages, more importantly thanks to all the vets at Aintree Races.
“Broadway Boy is getting loaded onto the horse ambulance and coming home. Such a special horse to all of us at Grangehill Farm. Big thanks to Laura who has stayed with him all night.”
Tom Bellamy, who rode Broadway Boy, was taken to Aintree University Hospital after the incident, where it was later discovered that he had broken his wrist. All 33 other jockeys returned to the weighing room after the Grand National had concluded.
