The trainers responsible for a horse who died several days after running in the Grand National have vowed to “stick together” and stand by its jockey.
Philip Hobbs and Johnson White will continue to support Micheal Nolan after the sad loss of 13-year-old chaser Celebre D’Allen.
It comes as a post-mortem instructed by the BHA found the thoroughbred’s death was not directly caused by his post-race collapse at Aintree on Saturday.
A veterinary report established the winner of nine races developed a severe infection that was not present on the day of the Randox-sponsored event.
White, who joined Hobbs on the licence in 2023, said: “The BHA statement explains what sadly happened to Celebre D’Allen.
“People have had an awful lot to say about it – some very unkind things but we have also had a lot of support from others in the industry.
“We always stand by our jockeys. There is a big team here – we work together and will stick together.”
Nolan was handed a 10-day ban after stewards deemed he had continued to race Celebre D’Allen when the chestnut appeared to have no more to give.
A winner over Aintree’s standard course in October 2023, the veteran performer carried owner Alan Stennett’s checked silks and was competing over the National fences for the fourth time in a 30-race career.
In a statement, 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.
“Further bloods taken on the Monday indicated a severely compromised immune system. These indications had not been present in the bloods taken on the day of the race. This indicates that this issue emerged subsequent to the race and the exercise-associated episode.
“The heart pathology found no issues which are likely to be significant in the death of the horse.
“As stated previously, the circumstances around the fatality – as is the case with any fatal injury – are being reviewed in detail. The post-mortem forms one part of this process. In addition, the Grand National is always reviewed in detail after every running of the race by the BHA and the Jockey Club.”
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