GORDON ELLIOTT is the subject of a BHA probe after one of his Cheltenham Festival horses failed a post-race drugs test.
Zanahiyr was found to have tested positive for a banned substance after finishing third in last year’s Champion Hurdle.
Elliott is facing a fine after one of his horse failed a post-race drugs testPA
PAZanahiyr finished third in last year’s Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham Festival[/caption]
According to the BHA’s penalties for breaching Rule (K)2.2, a ban of ten years is not totally off the table.
But it is believed that, if found guilty, Elliott will most likely face a fine up to a maximum of £5,000.
The horse could also be disqualifed from the Grade 1 feature, won last year for a second time by Honeysuckle.
Zanahiyr, owned by Bective Stud, won £47,745 for finishing third.
A BHA statement read: “The independent Disciplinary Panel of the British Horseracing Authority will convene on Wednesday 8 February 2023 to hear the following referral…
“1. Whether or not Licensed Trainer and Responsible Person Mr Gordon ELLIOT is in breach of Rule (K)2.2 (Presence of a Category B Prohibited Substance)1 of the post-4 January 2022 Rules of Racing due to the presence of a Prohibited Substance (3-hydroxylidocaine) in a post-race urine sample taken from ZANAHIYR on 15th March 2022 following the 15:30 Unibet Handicap Hurdle Challenge Trophy over 2 miles and ½ furlong at Cheltenham racecourse.
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“2. ZANAHIYR should be disqualified from the relevant race under Rule (L)47.4 (Disqualification of horses in races already run)2 because its post-race urine sample tested positive for a Prohibited Substance.”
Three-time Grand National-winning trainer Elliott, 43, was banned from the 2021 Cheltenham Festival after a photo emerged of him sitting on a dead horse.
The BBC report fellow Irish trainer Dermot Weld was fined after one of his horses failed a test for the same substance.
Elliott has endured a topsy-turvy season in the run up to racing’s biggest meeting.
Conflated, Teahupoo, Gerri Colombe and Mighty Potter have all given him Grade 1 success.
But he could be without his No1 jockey Jack Kennedy for the Festival after he broke his leg for a fifth time.
Kennedy was seen moving round Leopardstown on crutches at last weekend’s Dublin Racing Festival – five weeks before the Festival.
Kennedy’s injury forced Davy Russell – winner of two of Elliott’s Nationals on Tiger Roll – to make a sensational return to the sport.
He came back to ride for his old boss a matter of weeks after retiring.