Grand National day marred as Elle Est Belle tragically dies of suspected heart attack after collapsing at Aintree
GRAND NATIONAL day at Aintree was marred by a horse tragically dying of a suspected heart attack.
Elle Est Belle went off in the 2.25pm Mersey Novices' Hurdle.
The six-year-old ran along towards the rear of the field before making a surge towards the front.
She jumped the final fence in third but was slowing on the final flat.
Then Harry Skelton suddenly pulled her up before the end of the race, which was won by 5-2 favourite Three Stripe Life.
And four-time winner Elle Est Belle collapsed soon after.
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Aintree confirmed the sad news on the Dan Skelton-owned mare.
A racecourse spokesperson said: "Very sadly Elle Est Belle sustained a fatal injury close to the finish line in the Betway Mersey Novices’ Hurdle.
"All our thoughts are with Elle Est Belle’s connections."
Elle Est Belle ran in eight races, making her debut at Aintree in October 2020.
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She placed at Cheltenham and in the Grand National last year and earned £61,271 in winnings across her career.
Solwara One sadly died due to an injury after crossing the line in the 1:45pm race at Aintree on Friday.
But there were no fatalities as all 40 horses safely returned to the stables after the Grand National, won by amateur Sam Waley-Cohen on 50-1 Noble Yeats in his final race of his jockey career.
The rider - close pals with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge - paid an emotional tribute to his tragic late brother Thomas, who died of bone cancer aged 20 in 2004.