10 April 2026 , 23:07
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Gold Dancer has died shortly after winning the Novices’ Chase on Ladies Day at the Grand National Festival. He managed to cross the finish line despite clipping the final fence on his way down the home straight.
The horse, ridden by Paul Townend and trained by Willie Mullins, was immediately treated by medics in the aftermath of the race as the green screens went up.
It didn’t take long before it was tragically announced that Gold Dancer had been put down, just minutes after his victory. ITV Racing host Ed Chamberlin confirmed the death on the live broadcast, while Aintree Racecourse issued a statement of their own on social media.
It read: "The winner of our second race of the day, Gold Dancer, was pulled up after the line and dismounted.
"He was immediately attended to by our expert veterinary team but sadly he could not be saved. Our heartfelt condolences are with his connections."
Eddie O’Leary from the Gigginstown House Stud, which owned Gold Dancer, revealed the horse had died shortly before it was announced by ITV Racing.
"He’s been put down, he broke his back," said O’Leary. "It’s terribly sad for the horse. What could Paul [Townend] do? He felt fine, it was just when he pulled up that something was wrong."
O’Leary added: "He jumped brilliantly and there was that one little mistake. It’s a hollow victory now."
It comes after another winning horse died following a ’fatal accident’ at Kempton. Gewan, who claimed victory in the Dewhurst Stakes last season, was being prepared for the Greenham Stakes at Newbury when the devastating incident took place.
Medics rushed to attend to Gewan immediately but he was ultimately put down, with trainer Andrew Balding releasing a statement confirming the death.
"It is with extreme sadness that we report that Gewan, champion two-year-old of 2025, has suffered a fatal accident while having a racecourse gallop at Kempton this morning," he said.
"The vets were on site and attended to the horse immediately but sadly he could not be saved.
"Our thoughts are with the owners, James Doyle, who was riding the horse and is luckily uninjured, and Marie Perrault, who has looked after the horse since he arrived at Kingsclere and rode him every day."
Politics Editor