Grand National jockey BANNED after race – as punters say he should have got even longer
JOCKEY Micheal Nolan has been banned from racing for ten days following his ride on Celebre D'Allen in the 2025 Grand National.
The gelding was pulled up after the final fence before collapsing on the track as vets stormed onto the course.
Celebre D’Allen had settled towards the front of the field during the early stages of the Aintree steeplechase - later won by 33-1 Nick Rockett.
But his chances appeared to weaken as he came towards the final few National fences.
The 125/1 shot was then pulled up after jumping the final fence and collapsed on the track, as only 18 of the 34 starters finished the race.
The Philip Hobbs and Johnson White-trained horse has since returned to his stables after being seen in a horse ambulance.
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Despite appearing to be in difficulty after the second-last fence, Nolan continued to ride before finally pulling up after jumping the last.
After the race, the British Horse Racing Authority ruled that Nolan should have withdrawn the 13-year-old horse sooner.
The report read: “An enquiry was held to consider whether Micheal Nolan, the rider of CELEBRE D’ALLEN (FR), 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.
“The rider and the Veterinary Officer were interviewed, and recordings of the incident were viewed. The rider was suspended for 10 days.”
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But a section of fans believe Nolan's ban should be more severe.
One fan wrote: "I’m not usually one for slating jockeys, however, on this occasion I’d like to see a stronger punishment.
"There was nothing to be gained by jumping the last on a 13-year-old who had given everything."
SunSport's Matt Chapman later told that Celebre D'Allen had suffered heatstroke and would remain at Aintree overnight for monitoring.
He was one of THIRTEEN pulled up rides, with Cheltenham favourites Fil Dor and Stumptown among them.
Nigel Twiston-Davies’ Broadway Boy was leading the four-and-a-quarter mile race before falling at the 25th fence.
The 66-1 seven-year-old gelding also required treatment on the course.
Similarly to Celebre D’Allen, he has returned to his stable after being assessed in a horse ambulance.
Broadway Boy’s jockey Tom Bellamy has since been taken to the Aintree University Hospital to be looked over after the fall.
The BHA released a statement addressing the condition of both runners.
It read: “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.”
Full Grand National result
- 1) Nick Rockett, Patrick Mullins, 33-1
- 2) I Am Maximus, Paul Townend, 7-1
- 3) Grangeclare West, Brian Hayes, 33-1
- 4) Iroko, Jonjo O'Neill Jr, 13-2 Fav
- 5) Meetingofthewaters, Danny Mullins, 20-1
- 6) Senior Chief, Darragh O'Keeffe, 40-1
- 7) Minella Cocooner, Jonathan Burke, 18-1
- 8) Hewick, Gavin Sheehan, 14-1
- 9) Minella Indo, Rachael Blackmore, 20-1
- 10) Twig, Beau Morgan, 50-1
- 11)Three Card Brag, Sean Bowen, 16-1
- 12) Beauport, Sam Twiston-Davies, 33-1
- 13) Horantzau D'airy, Conor Gethings, 150-1
- 14) Vanillier, Sean Flanagan, 12-1
- 15) Bravemansgame, James Reveley, 40-1
- 16) Chantry House, James Bowen, 66-1
The incidents came during a historic edition of the Grand National, which saw Willie Mullins become the first trainer in the modern era to saddle a 1-2-3 finish in the famous race.
His son Patrick Mullins rode 33/1 shot Nick Rockett to victory, narrowly beating stablemates I Am Maximus and Grangeclare West.
Willie broke down in tears after afterwards.
After composing himself, Mullins said: "To put your son up on a Grand National winner… What a special day for him, as a jockey and as a person.
"To win a Grand National as a trainer - wow, how wonderful. To have the two combined - I can’t explain it. I can’t comprehend it and I find it hard to take."
After winning the Grand National, Patrick admitted that he had achieved a childhood dream.
The 35-year-old said: "It's just incredible. He jumped fantastic and I was there way too soon. It was a long way from the back of the last but this is everything I've dreamed of since I was a kid.
"It sounds a cliche but when I was five or six I was reading books about the National and watching videos of the likes of Red Rum, and to put my name amongst them is incredible.
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"He just a brilliant horse. He's not very big and one of the smallest in the field but he's a great ride."
Meanwhile, Sir Alex Ferguson banged in an £80,000 winner on Merseyside - as he celebrated a stunning 1-3 on Grand National day.