Latest news with #BroadwayBoy
The Guardian
07-04-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Recovery of fallen horses lends positive postscript to Mullins National
Broadway Boy and Celebre D'Allen, the two horses that needed veterinary treatment on the track after running in the Grand National on Saturday, were both reported to be making good progress on Sunday after spending the night at Aintree racecourse. Willy Twiston-Davies – assistant to his father, Nigel, the trainer of Broadway Boy – said the gelding would be back in the yard later in the day after taking a heavy fall at the 25th fence when leading the field on the second circuit. 'It sounds a lot more positive,' Twiston-Davies said. 'There's going to be a couple of weeks of uncertainty for future racing but it looks a lot more positive than it did yesterday and the most important thing is our horse is coming home and should be OK. 'His welfare for the next few weeks is the most important thing and the vets at Aintree did a tremendous job and Laura Scrivener, who looked after him all night, was fantastic with him, and our boy's coming home.' Celebre D'Allen, a 125-1 chance, was pulled up after jumping the last fence and then collapsed on the course. Michael Nolan, his jockey, was banned for 10 days for continuing to ride after jumping the second-last fence when his chance had clearly gone. Like Broadway Boy, Celebre D'Allen was able to walk into a horse ambulance after being treated by vets and Johnson White, co-trainer of the 13-year-old, said on Sunday that the gelding is 'going the right way'. White said: 'I've seen videos of him this morning looking much brighter in himself and he's been out for a pick of grass. The vets have seen him and he's probably going to travel to a livery yard close to Aintree later today. It's positive news and he's going the right way. 'In the heat of the moment, I haven't really spoken to the vets about what it really is, but it was probably a combination of the heat and everything. The main thing now is he's back on the right track.' The upbeat reports on both horses were a suitably positive postscript to a race that will inevitably, and rightly, be remembered as the Mullins National, after the father-and-son combination of Willie and Patrick got the win with Nick Rockett and their stable recording an unprecedented 1‑2‑3 and sending out five of the first seven home. An outsider looking in might suggest that since the Mullins yard enjoys unparalleled dominance in jumping's most important events in both Britain and Ireland, the result on Saturday was par for the course for a stable that houses a significant proportion of the best steeplechasers around. Sign up to The Recap The best of our sports journalism from the past seven days and a heads-up on the weekend's action after newsletter promotion A 1-2-3 in the National, though, never mind five in the first seven, is a triumph on an entirely different level to most of Mullins's achievements in the past. His half-dozen runners faced 28 opponents, in a handicap, and while all six had 'WPM' stitched on their saddle-cloths, they had very different profiles heading into the race on Saturday. Rockett took a fairly traditional route to Aintree via the Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse in February. I Am Maximus, the runner-up, was the defending champion, attempting to become the first top-weight to win since 1974. Grangeclare West, who was third, had just the minimum of six chase starts required to run, Minella Cocooner (7th) was a big handicap winner who had gone off the boil while fifth-home Meetingofthewaters crept in at the bottom of the weights, more than a stone below his stable companions. As it turned out, though, the other thing that they all had in common at 4pm on Saturday was that they had been prepared to the minute to run their best possible race, by a trainer whose pre-eminence among the greats of past and present is now beyond doubt. The immediate impact of Mullins's latest tour-de-force, meanwhile, is that having been the first Irish trainer to win the British jumps championship for 70 years in 2023-24, he is now poised to defend his title and will be sending lorry loads of horses to meetings up and down the country over the next three weeks. Just as it did last year, a race that in the past has often been, in some respects, old news once the last horse is across the line has once again set up a compelling conclusion to the National Hunt campaign. Some still decry the changes to the fences and race conditions that have changed the nature of the race in recent years, but as an advertisement for jumps racing, and a starting point for potentially deeper engagement in the sport as a whole, the modern Grand National is so far proving to be just as effective, if not more so, than its previous incarnations.
Telegraph
07-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Televising the Grand National is now the impossible job
On Sunday morning, the news filtered through that Grand National faller Broadway Boy was OK, and one imagines there were some enormous sighs of relief over at ITV Sport. Televising the Grand National has become sports broadcasting's impossible job but Ed Chamberlin and company gave it a damn good go this weekend. A large percentage of the event's viewership watches exactly one horse race a year and that poses a massive challenge because there is always a realistic prospect of an animal dying live on terrestrial TV in front of a family teatime audience. Animal Aid claims that 66 horses have been killed at the National meeting since 2000, and 16 in the showpiece race itself in that time. On the odds, then, the outsiders on the bookies' boards are more likely to die in the race than win it. Not a great vibe. Millions of homes will have had the same reaction when Broadway Boy hit the floor head-first at fence 25: that's a goner. A sickening fall, poor thing. How are you supposed to televise that? Stay tuned after the horsey death horror-show for pranks with Stephen Mulhern or switch over to Ice Age 2, kids. As it turned out, the animal survived, amazingly. Huge numbers of people were complaining on social media that ITV did not provide enough updates but what were Chamberlin and the producers meant to do? Until the information is available, what can they say? The race replay, skilfully negotiated by Oli Bell and Ruby Walsh, skipped out that fence to some people's disapproval but, again, they are damned if they do and damned if they don't. M'colleague Charlie Brooks argued in these pages recently that the changes made to the National 'are rapidly eroding [its unique] appeal and will destroy the popularity of the race' because 'the fences have been neutered to the point they are more of a trip hazard than a challenge', although the obstacle that defeated Broadway Boy looked challenging enough to most casual viewers. One defers to the experts when they say that fings ain't what they used to be, so it was lucky for racing that the Mullins father-and-son story provided a much better narrative than yet another routine win for the Closutton superpower. ITV's coverage on Saturday began with Brough Scott setting the scene and saying, don't worry about what it once was, celebrate it for what it is today. And the commentary of the race itself remains as it always has been: a complete nightmare. Could be Peter O'Sullevan, could be Richard Hoiles: speaking very fast, doing a brilliant job, but you are always at a loss as to where your one actually is. In terms of the event, broadcasting it has never been harder. On the one hand, animal rights people are not going to be satisfied while the race or indeed the sport exists at all. People of this persuasion do not want to hear about safer fences or having Chamberlin, Alice Plunkett and Mick Fitzgerald explain over and over that the horses get water, cooling fans and regular vet checks. It is striking how quickly racing has pivoted from essentially putting its collective fingers in its ears and saying variations of 'you townies don't understand our ways so shut up and leave us alone', to now contorting itself into all sorts of uncomfortable shapes to convince the once-a-year viewer that the animals are treated like kings so the occasional unpleasantness is fair game. This is sometimes taken to the point of absurdity, as with Fitzgerald saying on Saturday: 'If you are a human then you get triaged when you go to hospital and have to wait in line, no such worries for these horses, they get immediate treatment right away.' And they can get an NHS dentist appointment as well, the lucky buggers. The biggest cringe of the meeting was definitely owner Susannah Ricci's interview with Matt Chapman on Thursday. Her record on the day: Gaelic Warrior won, Lossiemouth won, Willy De Houelle dead. Well, you win some you lose some, right Suze? Chapman: 'I know you did lose a horse today but it has been some day.' Ricci: 'Yes, these are the days that dreams are made of, very privileged to have two such amazing horses.' ITV producer: *clutches head in hands*
Yahoo
06-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Broadway Boy heads home after Grand National fall
Broadway Boy is to return home after suffering a heavy fall in the Grand National. The horse, trained in Gloucestershire by Nigel Twiston-Davies, was leading the Aintree showpiece when he came down heavily at Valentine's Brook on the second circuit. "Thank you for all the lovely messages, more importantly thanks to all the vets at @AintreeRaces," said Nigel's son and assistant trainer Willy Twiston-Davies on X. "Broadway Boy is getting loaded on to 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." Willy's jockey brother Sam said the horse was "stiff and sore". Following the race, Broadway Boy and Celebre D'Allen - who was pulled up - were walked on to horse ambulances after being assessed on course by vets and taken to the racecourse stables for further assessment. Broadway Boy's jockey Tom Bellamy was taken to Aintree University Hospital for assessment Celebre D'Allen is trained in Somerset by Philip Hobbs and Johnson White. "He has stayed overnight at Aintree for observation and rest and will be OK," said a post on their Facebook account on Saturday evening. Nick Rockett wins Grand National for Mullins duo Tearful Mullins savours career peak after National success with son Grand National 2025 result - where your horse finished Celebre D'Allen's rider Micheal Nolan was given a 10-day suspension after Aintree stewards ruled he had continued when his mount had no more to give and was losing ground. Meanwhile Nick Scholfield, who pulled up his National mount Monbeg Genius after the third-last fence, has announced his retirement. The 35-year-old was third in the big race on Teaforthree in 2013 and fourth with Santini in 2022. Scholfield, who plans to become a trainer, won the Grade One Tolworth Hurdle at Sandown in 2013 aboard Melodic Rendezvous, one of eight victories on the horse. Latest horse racing results
BBC News
06-04-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Broadway Boy heads home after Grand National fall
Broadway Boy is to return home after suffering a heavy fall in the Grand horse, trained in Gloucestershire by Nigel Twiston-Davies, was leading the Aintree showpiece when he came down heavily at Valentine's Brook on the second circuit."Thank you for all the lovely messages, more importantly thanks to all the vets at @AintreeRaces," said Nigel's son and assistant trainer Willy Twiston-Davies on X."Broadway Boy is getting loaded on to 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."Willy's jockey brother Sam said the horse was "stiff and sore".Following the race, Broadway Boy and Celebre D'Allen - who was pulled up - were walked on to horse ambulances after being assessed on course by vets and taken to the racecourse stables for further Boy's jockey Tom Bellamy was taken to Aintree University Hospital for assessmentCelebre D'Allen is trained in Somerset by Philip Hobbs and Johnson White."He has stayed overnight at Aintree for observation and rest and will be OK," said a post on their Facebook account on Saturday evening. Celebre D'Allen's rider Micheal Nolan was given a 10-day suspension after Aintree stewards ruled he had continued when his mount had no more to give and was losing Nick Scholfield, who pulled up his National mount Monbeg Genius after the third-last fence, has announced his 35-year-old was third in the big race on Teaforthree in 2013 and fourth with Santini in who plans to become a trainer, won the Grade One Tolworth Hurdle at Sandown in 2013 aboard Melodic Rendezvous, one of eight victories on the horse.
Yahoo
05-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Broadway Boy condition update issued after horror Grand National fall
Updates have been issued on the two horses that were being assessed on course after the Grand National on Saturday amid hopes both will make a recovery. Millions of people tuned into watch the race at Aintree on Saturday afternoon, which saw 33/1 shot Nick Rockett storm to victory ahead of I Am Maximus. However, of 34 starters, only 18 horses made the finish line with serious concerns for two of the horses following the race. READ MORE: Broadway Boy update issued by Grand National bosses after fall READ MORE: Celebre d'Allen jockey suspended after horse collapses in Grand National Both Broadway Boy and Celebre d'Allen had to be attended to by vets on the course. The Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained Broadway Boy raced prominently for a long way in the four-and-a-quarter-mile marathon before taking a horrible-looking fall at the 25th fence. Celebre d'Allen was a 125-1 shot under Micheal Nolan, with the rider pulling up the runner after jumping the final fence. The 13-year-old then collapsed on the racecourse, with Nolan subsequently banned for 10 days by stewards for his riding. The Jockey Club, who operate Aintree, said both eventually walked into the horse ambulance before being taken to the racecourse stables for further assessment. At 6pm, the British Horseracing Authority said: 'Both horses received immediate and extensive treatment by the vets, also calling on the first class facilities and various teams on site. 'This treatment and assessment will continue into the evening.' And tonight, further information has emerged on both horses. ITV Racing's Matt Chapman has said vets are 'hopeful' Broadway Boy will recover, with Celebre d'Allen being forced to remain at the racecourse overnight. He posted on X: "Grand National bulletin. Celebre d'Allen had heatstroke. Staying at course tonight. Should be fine. "Broadway Boy. Vets happy. Monitoring for next 24 hours. But again very hopeful he will be okay. Connections loath to say anything quite yet just in case." Broadway Boy's rider Tom Bellamy was also taken to hospital following his fall.
