Grand National 'You bet, they die' protest at Trafalgar Square's fourth plinth

The Gift Horse, by Hans Haacke, is wrapped in a banner that reads: 'Horse Racing: You bet, they die'. Credit: PA

Ahead of today’s Grand National at Aintree, supporters of campaign group Animal Aid have been protesting against it.

This morning, campaigners scaled the fourth plinth in London's Trafalgar Square to wrap the Gift Horse, by Hans Haacke, in a banner that read: "Horse Racing: You bet, they die."

In a statement, the group said it aims to draw attention to the dangers faced by race horses, claiming 40 horses have died at the three-day Grand National meeting since 2000.