Latest news with #RandoxGrandNational
Rhyl Journal
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Rhyl Journal
Rachael Blackmore: A career in pictures
Rachael Blackmore kisses the Cheltenham Gold Cup (David Davies/PA) This article is brought to you by our exclusive subscriber partnership with our sister title USA Today, and has been written by our American colleagues. It does not necessarily reflect the view of The Herald. With Rachael Blackmore having announced her immediate retirement from riding, we look back on some of the defining moments of an exceptional career in the saddle. Blackmore celebrates becoming the first female jockey to win the Randox Grand National on Minella Times in 2021 (David Davies for the Jockey Club). Blackmore was also the first female rider to claim Cheltenham Gold Cup glory on A Plus Tard in 2022 (David Davies/PA). Blackmore and Honeysuckle were runaway winners of the 2021 Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham (Alan Crowhurst/PA). The two leading ladies managed to repeat the trick in 2022 (David Davies/PA). And who could forget the amazing scenes after they won the 2023 Mares' Hurdle (David Davies for the Jockey Club). Minella Indo was Blackmore's first Grade One winner when landing the 2019 Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham (Nigel French/PA) Blackmore speaks to Queen Camilla after winning the Queen Mother Champion Chase on Captain Guinness in 2024 (David Davies for the Jockey Club). Blackmore is presented with the trophy by television personality Gemma Collins after winning the 2025 Stayers' Hurdle with Bob Olinger (David Davies for the Jockey Club). Blackmore celebrates after winning the 2021 Ryanair Chase on Allaho (David Davies for the Jockey Club). Blackmore after completing an Irish Champion Hurdle hat-trick on Honeysuckle in 2022 (Niall Carson/PA).
South Wales Guardian
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- South Wales Guardian
Rachael Blackmore: A career in pictures
Rachael Blackmore kisses the Cheltenham Gold Cup (David Davies/PA) This article is brought to you by our exclusive subscriber partnership with our sister title USA Today, and has been written by our American colleagues. It does not necessarily reflect the view of The Herald. With Rachael Blackmore having announced her immediate retirement from riding, we look back on some of the defining moments of an exceptional career in the saddle. Blackmore celebrates becoming the first female jockey to win the Randox Grand National on Minella Times in 2021 (David Davies for the Jockey Club). Blackmore was also the first female rider to claim Cheltenham Gold Cup glory on A Plus Tard in 2022 (David Davies/PA). Blackmore and Honeysuckle were runaway winners of the 2021 Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham (Alan Crowhurst/PA). The two leading ladies managed to repeat the trick in 2022 (David Davies/PA). And who could forget the amazing scenes after they won the 2023 Mares' Hurdle (David Davies for the Jockey Club). Minella Indo was Blackmore's first Grade One winner when landing the 2019 Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham (Nigel French/PA) Blackmore speaks to Queen Camilla after winning the Queen Mother Champion Chase on Captain Guinness in 2024 (David Davies for the Jockey Club). Blackmore is presented with the trophy by television personality Gemma Collins after winning the 2025 Stayers' Hurdle with Bob Olinger (David Davies for the Jockey Club). Blackmore celebrates after winning the 2021 Ryanair Chase on Allaho (David Davies for the Jockey Club). Blackmore after completing an Irish Champion Hurdle hat-trick on Honeysuckle in 2022 (Niall Carson/PA).
The Herald Scotland
25-04-2025
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
Mullins hot favourite to keep hold of his ‘cookie jar'
There is a slightly different feel to the conclusion of this year's race, with Skelton having led the way for virtually the entire campaign and he appeared home and hosed before Mullins fired in eight winners across three days at Aintree and saddled five of the first seven home in the Grand National. Even a Mullins one-two in the following weekend's Scottish Grand National could not knock Skelton off top spot and the Alcester handler will take a lead of over £68,000 into the last day thanks to Friday's success for Coco Mademoiselle at Perth and Doyouknowwhatimean's Chepstow second – but with Mullins running 21 horses to his nine at Sandown, Skelton admits he is fearing the worst. Trainer Dan Skelton at Ayr (Steve Welsh/PA) 'Everyone here is full of hope and full of the possibility, but I feel like I know what's coming on Saturday,' he said. 'I've known since Aintree that Willie was going to bring a few over for the Scottish National and a few for the midweek meetings and then he was going to attack Sandown with some vigour. 'But I didn't sit back after Aintree and say the inevitability of all this is going to subdue me and my team. We've come out and done everything we can, our horses have been phenomenal and I'm so proud of everybody. 'My owners and my team, we've never been champion, we've never been to that dance. But the excitement that we might have done it and we might still do it – and the tenacity everyone is showing – is something I've taken a lot of heart from. 'It's different when you've never won one, as you're trying to get through the door and onto the dancefloor. Maybe the bouncer won't let us into the party on Saturday, but we'll try and do it.' Trainer Willie Mullins after winning the Randox Grand National with Nick Rockett (Nigel French/The Jockey Club) Despite the fact Mullins has not yet been in front during this season's title race, the master of Closutton is long odds-on to emulate O'Brien by successfully defending his British crown. The man himself, however, is taking nothing for granted. He said: 'Dan is in front and we can think about all the points we might get on the board, but as we see every year in the Premier League, having points on the board is worth more than anything. 'The fact we are both in different countries means we're not meeting each other all the time in the weighing room like you would in Ireland and we don't ring each other seeing what each other is going to run or things like that, so it's been very quiet and he's doing his business and I'm doing mine. 'I'm sure we'll have a bit of fun on Saturday and one of us is going to be disappointed and one of us is going to walk away with the cookie jar (the trophy) – it's where I kept all my sweets in and whoever wins on Saturday might be lucky and find one or two left at the bottom! 'We had a great day at Sandown last year and they looked after us very well and we were totally amazed with the support we got, it was a great day and a fantastic atmosphere.' This is going TO THE WIRE! Skelton vs. Mullins at the last and this time it's Team Skelton who come out on top with Riskintheground beating O'Moore Park — The Jockey Club (@TheJockeyClub) April 16, 2025 With Mullins not represented until race three, Skelton has the chance to extend his lead with Riskintheground, who following two wins in the space of a week earlier in the month, goes in search of the hat-trick in the second race on the card – the bet365 Josh Gifford Novices' Handicap Chase. 'We were always planning for him around this time of year, I always had the Cheltenham race in mind and we thought we'd go to Ayr beforehand,' said Skelton. 'He's in the form of his life, he looks fantastic. It's been 10 days since he ran, so it's not like I'm running him three days later, and he absolutely loves it. 'I'm sure he'll run very well, whether the handicapper has caught up with him, we'll find out.' Mullins fires a four-pronged assault on the Grade Two bet365 Oaksey Chase, with hot favourite Gaelic Warrior joined by a trio of stablemates in Gentleman De Mee, Appreciate It and Classic Getaway. Gaelic Warrior on his way to victory at Aintree (Mike Egerton/PA) He said: 'It took me all year to get Gaelic Warrior right but I got him right for Aintree. Sometimes you get a horse right once and that will be it for the year, but he will have to be at his best again. 'Paul (Townend) rides him and Mark Walsh rides Gentleman De Mee. They would be the first team while Appreciate It and Classic Getaway are sort of the second 11.' In the same race, outsider Boombawn represents Skelton, who said: 'He's been a fabulous horse all year, he's Grade One placed and a Grade Two winner, but look what's coming over! We're asking him an impossible task.' Grade Two honours are also up for grabs in the bet365 Select Hurdle, in which Mullins again saddles the market leader in Kitzbuhel while Skelton runs Gwennie May Boy and Take No Chances. 'He's a nice horse, but Nicky Henderson's horse Lucky Place might be the one we have to beat. If Kitzbuhel turned up at his best, I'd expect him to go very close,' said Mullins. Skelton added: 'Take No Chances has had a phenomenal year, she's been consistent all the way through and will love the track and the ground, and the trip is no problem. 'Gwennie May Boy underwhelmed a little bit last time but was very good the time before. I'd like to think the pair of them can be real competitors.' Mullins outnumbers Skelton 10 to one in the bet365 Gold Cup and has twice as many runners in the concluding bet365 Handicap Hurdle with four.
Telegraph
10-04-2025
- Health
- Telegraph
Grand National horse died from ‘infection and sepsis'
Grand National runner Celebre D'Allen died from a respiratory infection which developed after his collapse in the race. The 13-year-old horse developed a 'severe bacterial respiratory infection' that resulted in the onset of sepsis as the horse's immune system was 'severely compromised' after running on Saturday. Post-mortem examinations concluded that an 'exercise-associated episode' which led the 13-year-old to collapse was no longer a factor by the time of his death on Tuesday. The horse – who collapsed after jumping the last in Saturday's showpiece – died of complications linked to pleuropneumonia (a lung infection), although blood tests taken on the day of the race showed no presence of the virus. Vets believe it is not possible to separate the emergence of the secondary problem from his run at Aintree. A statement from the BHA said: 'The findings of the post-mortem state that the exercise-associated episode experienced by the horse after the race had concluded by the time of death. 'However, a severe bacterial respiratory infection [pleuropneumonia] had occurred post-race which led to the horse's deterioration on Monday evening, with the subsequent onset of sepsis or endotoxaemia [the release of harmful substances into the bloodstream from bacteria] likely to have been a key factor in the cause of death. 'Blood tests taken from the day of the race indicate that the infection had not been present in the horse on raceday, and was therefore developed after the race.' After initially showing signs of recovery, Celebre D'Allen's condition 'deteriorated significantly' and he died on Tuesday. Micheal Nolan, Celebre D'Allen's rider, was handed a 10-day suspension after Aintree stewards ruled he had 'continued in the race when the horse appeared to have no more to give and was clearly losing ground after the second-last fence'. But the post-mortem examination found that the effects of the incident had 'concluded by the time of death'. The infection resulted in the onset of sepsis, which is 'likely to have been a key factor' in the cause of death. Blood tests taken on the day of the race indicated that the infection had not been present in the horse on raceday. The BHA said the post-mortem was just 'one part' of their reviewing process of any fatality. Celebre D'Allen was a 125-1 shot at the National won by jockey Patrick Mullins on Nick Rockett. This is great to see 🙌 Broadway Boy and Celebre D'Allen who ran in yesterday's Randox Grand National are heading off home after being given the time and treatment they needed from our expert teams. — Aintree Racecourse (@AintreeRaces) April 6, 2025 Celebre D'Allen's death prompted criticism from animal-rights activists, with Animal Rising and Animal Aid attacking the sport for allowing him to run aged 13. The BHA said there had been 24 13-year-old horses since 2000 who have competed in the Grand National, with no previous fatalities. There was also concern at the Grand National for Broadway Boy, who suffered a heavy fall at the 25th fence while leading the race. Vets and staff rushed to the scene and it was confirmed on Sunday that, although the horse was 'stiff and sore', it was 'travelling home' safely. National-winning jockey suspended Winning jockey Mullins was also banned this week after being handed an eight-day suspension for overuse of the whip on the run to the finish line. Mullins, who led home a one-two-three for father and trainer Willie Mullins, was found to have used the whip eight times after the last fence, one more than the permitted seven in jumps racing. His ride was referred to the Whip Review Committee who elected to sanction the amateur jockey for breaching the limit, and he will be suspended for eight separate days including April 23 and 25.
Sky News
08-04-2025
- Health
- Sky News
Race horse Celebre D'Allen dies after collapsing during Grand National
A horse that collapsed during the Grand National has died. Celebre d'Allen was pulled up - stopped from racing - by rider Micheal Nolan after the final fence of the 30-fence race at Aintree on 5 April before collapsing. The 13-year-old horse, trained by Philip Hobbs and Johnson White, remained at the course overnight on Saturday before being taken back to the trainers' stables for further treatment. They confirmed on Tuesday that the horse had died after he "deteriorated significantly" overnight. "We're heartbroken to share that Celebre d'Allen has passed away," Mr Hobbs and Mr White said in a statement. "He received the very best treatment by the veterinary teams and was improving. However, he deteriorated significantly last night and could not be saved. He was a wonderful horse and we will all miss him greatly." Jockey Mr Nolan has been given a 10-day suspension by race day stewards after an inquiry found he continued to ride Celebre d'Allen beyond the penultimate fence, even though the horse "appeared to have no more to give and was clearly losing ground". Brant Dunshea, acting chief executive of regulatory body the British Horseracing Authority, said: "All of us at the BHA are saddened to learn of the death of Celebre d'Allen following Saturday's Randox Grand National. "It has been clear to see since Saturday afternoon just how much the horse meant to his connections and we send our condolences to them today. "As with all runners in the Grand National, Celebre d'Allen was provided with a thorough check by vets at the racecourse. This health check includes a trot up, physical examination of limbs to check for any heat, pain or swelling, and listening to the heart to check for any murmur or rhythm disturbance. "This marks the final step in an extensive process of checks to ensure a horse's suitability to race in the National, which also includes a review of veterinary records and assessment by a panel of experts to consider a horse's race record and suitability to race. "As part of this process the horse would also have been examined by the trainer's own vet on the two occasions, a month apart." He said the BHA and Aintree will analyse the race and Celebre d'Allen's collapse in detail to "understand how all reasonable avoidable risk can be reduced in order to keep our horses and riders as safe as possible". He said there will also be a post-mortem. Celebre d'Allen was the oldest horse in this year's field. Since the inaugural Grand National in 1839, nearly 90 horses have died. The race has long been the focus of animal rights activists. A number of new measures were introduced last year in an attempt to make the race safer. Changes included reducing the number of competitors, a standing start, making one of the fences shorter, and adding foam and rubber toe boards to every fence.
