Broadway Boy suffered a horror fall while leading the Grand National. The horse led for most of the race before tumbling over one of the hurdles. Veterinary experts assessed Broadway Boy and another fallen horse, Celebre D’Allen, on the course for a lengthy period of time, which led to the following race being delayed.
Both horses eventually walked onto separate horse ambulances and were taken back to their respective stables for further assessments. Broadway Boy was ahead of the field and jumping well until it tumbled around three-quarters into the race. The horrific fall saw the horse tumble forward. In a scary landing, he fell upright on his front legs before his head appeared to sink into the ground.
Jockey Tom Bellamy came tumbling off the horse but appeared to land on his knees. The camera cut away before it became clear whether Broadway Boy was okay. Bellamy was later confirmed as having been taken to Aintree University Hospital for further tests.
ITV were criticised for not mentioning the fall for the remainder or in the immediate aftermath of the race. A reference finally came around 30 minutes later when co-presenter Oli Bell assured that an update would follow as soon as there was news. Presenter Ed Chamberlin then read a statement from the Grand National at 4:45pm, which read: “Broadway Boy and Celebre D’Allen are being assessed by expert veterinary teams. Further updates will follow in due course.”
Much of the coverage centred around the winning horse, Nick Rockett, and the triumphant father-son duo of trainer Willie Mullins and jockey Patrick Mullins.
Broadway Boy had been around a length ahead of his rivals. His fall allowed several contenders to move ahead and compete to win the Grand National. The race was eventually won by Nick Rockett. Trainer Mullins was in tears afterwards and his post-race interview with ITV had to be cut short.
His emotional son Patrick told ITV: “I had too good a start and was having to take him back all the way. I was wondering at Canal Turn had I lost too much ground, but he just jumped fantastic.
“Then I was there too soon and it is a long way from the back of the last with Paul Townend [on I Am Maximus] on my outside.
“It’s everything I’ve dreamed of since I was a kid, I know it’s a cliche but when I was five or six years old, reading books about the National and watching black and white videos of Red Rum. To put my name there is very special.”
Each of the top three finishers are trained by Mullins.
It was an emotional victory for Nick Rockett owner Stewart Andrew. His wife, Sadie, died in December 2022, five days after watching Nick Rockett in his first race.
