Disgraced trainer Gordon Elliott fined and his horse Zanahiyr disqualified for Cheltenham Festival failed drugs test
LEADING trainer Gordon Elliott has been fined £1,000 and seen his horse Zanahiyr disqualified over a failed drug test at last year’s Cheltenham Festival.
Zanahiyr tested positive for a substance used in racing stables as a local anaesthetic after coming third to Honeysuckle in the Champion Hurdle.
A disciplinary panel heard that the The 3-hydroxylidocaine, a metabolite of lidocaine, might have come from cross-contamination.
It’s not been established where it came from but it’s banned on race days.
The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) referred the case to an independent panel.
And BHA lawyer Charlotte Davison labelled it “a mystery case”.
Irishman Elliott, 44, a former jockey, has trained Grand National and Cheltenham Gold Cup winners.
His representative Rory Mac Neice said Zanahiyr had most likely taken in the substance during four days spent at the racecourse stables after arriving from Ireland.
The BBC report Mac Meice as saying: “I accept that responsibility lies with Mr Elliott.
“I don’t accept that includes posting a guard beside his horses 24 hours a day to stop someone giving it a pat or letting them lick their hand.”
It’s thought Elliott could have been banned for up to 10 years and fined as much as £5k for such an offence.
Zanahiyr’s disqualification means Saint Roi was promoted from fourth to third place.
Saint Roi was trained by Willie Mullins and the £47,745 prizemoney goes to owner JP McManus.