Animal rights campaigners slammed Grand National organisers after a horse died on the first day of the meeting at Aintree on Thursday.

The world famous National will be staged on Saturday, with the welfare of the horses firmly on the agenda after Battlefront became the 23rd horse to die on the Liverpool course since 2000.

Aintree bosses made significant alterations to the course after last year’s big race was marred by the death of two horses, According To Pete and Synchronised.

That followed two fatalities in the 2011 race, Ornais and Dooney’s Gate.

Old wooden fence frames have been replaced in a bid to make the race easier on the horses.

However, Battlefront was pulled up by jockey Katie Walsh during the fourth race on the course on Thursday.