Gordon Elliott has been fined £1,000 and Zanahiyr disqualified from third place in last year’s Champion Hurdle after the horse tested positive for a “mystery” banned substance.
The Cheltenham Gold Cup and Grand National-winning trainer accepted that he was in breach of two charges he faced at a BHA independent disciplinary panel inquiry but was unable to explain the source of the adverse finding.
Zanahiyr’s post-race urine sample, taken after he ran at the Cheltenham Festival, showed a presence of 3-hydroxylidocaine, the main metabolite of the prescription-only medication lidocaine which is banned on raceday.
Investigators paid an unannounced visit to Elliott’s Co Meath stables, interviewed Elliott and the vets who had treated Zanahiyr for a back issue, none of which revealed how the substance got into the horse’s system.
Examination of medications being taken by any of the 27 stable staff who travelled to Cheltenham with Elliott’s Festival string also drew a blank.
“This is what has been termed in the past a mystery case,” said Charlotte Davison, representing the BHA.
Davison argued for a penalty greater than required for a “low culpability” offence, which would result in a caution or a fine of up to £5,000 because Elliott had not taken reasonable precautions to prevent possible cross-contamination.
“Mr Elliot has failed to ensure that any real, let alone sufficient precautions, were in place on his yard, including travelling procedures when racing away, to prevent potential contamination from staff taking medication," she said..
She added: “It was also clear that there was no process for anybody in Mr Elliott’s yard to notify him if they were taking medication that could lead to an adverse analytical finding.”
However Elliott’s solicitor Rory NacNeice said: “Mr Elliott is in breach only because he trained the horse.
“The BHA’s own investigation found nothing to suggest the cause of the adverse finding was linked to anything at Mr Elliott’s yard or his staff at Cheltenham.
“Given the 72 hour detection time of the substance, the BHA has conceded whatever did cause the adverse finding was most likely to have come in contact whilst it was stabled at the racecourse stables in Cheltenham.”
Zanahiyr was at Cheltenham for four days, where he was exercised three mornings and led up, so would have come into contact with others, he said.
“Culpability, fault, blameworthiness, we say, sits comfortably within the low category,” said MacNeice.
“The horse came into contact with the prohibited substance in an environment which Mr Elliott was not in control of. The prohibited substance was not in his own yard. It wasn’t contained in any medication. It wasn’t contained in anything used by his staff.
“The one issue on which the BHA seeks to criticise Mr Elliott is that he had no recording process in place for medication taken by staff. That has no causative effect at all on the adverse finding in this horse. It doesn’t meet the threshold of a significant failing.”
Owned by Bective Stud, Zanahiyr earned £47,745 in prize-money for finishing third at Cheltenham, a sum which will now go to the connections of Saint Roi, who will be promoted to third.
