Grand National runner Celebre d’Allen has died following Saturday’s race at Aintree.
The 13-year-old horse pulled up after the final fence and collapsed on the track.
Celebre d’Allen received medical treatment on the course before being taken to the racehorse stables for further assessment.
After initially showing signs of recovery, he died after his condition “deteriorated significantly”.
“We’re heartbroken to share that Celebre d’Allen has passed away,” trainers Philip Hobbs and Johnson White said on Tuesday.
“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.”
Micheal Nolan, Celebre d’Allen’s rider, was handed a 10-day suspension on Saturday after Aintree stewards ruled he had continued when his mount had no more to give and was losing ground.
The British Horseracing Authority (BHA), who passed the suspension on Nolan, said Celebre d’Allen passed the necessary checks to race at Aintree.
“As with all runners in the Grand National, Celebre D’Allen was provided with a thorough check by vets at the racecourse,” a BHA statement read.
“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 horses’ 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.”
Celebre d’Allen’s death has prompted criticism from animal rights groups.
“The blame for his death lies not with any individual, but with the “sport” of horse racing itself,” said Animal Rising spokesperson Ben Newman.
“Again and again, we see horses pushed far beyond their limits, to the point of injury, collapse, and death.”