RACING NEWS: IRELAND'S CHAMPION trainer Aidan O'Brien and the classic-winning jockey Colm O'Donoghue have been summoned by British racing's ruling body to an inquiry to establish if they were in breach of the "team tactics" rule during Duke Of Marmalade's dramatic victory in the Juddmonte International at Newmarket 11 days ago.

The disciplinary committee of the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) plan to hold an inquiry in three weeks which O'Brien and O'Donoghue are required to attend. It brings to a head an running controversy that has resulted from O'Brien's use of pacemakers in some of the top races this season.

The BHA's Rule 153 includes a section forbidding a horse making a manoeuvre in the interests of another horse from the same stable. O'Brien will have to satisfy the BHA committee that he has instructed his rider to treat every other horse in the race without favour.

If O'Brien is found guilty he faces a fine of up to £15,000, while O'Donoghue could be banned for up to 17 days. However, there is no danger of the actual Juddmonte result being changed.

At Newmarket, O'Donoghue rode the Ballydoyle pacemaker Red Rock Canyon who led Duke Of Marmalade to approximately the four-furlong marker at which point Red Rock Canyon appeared to roll off the rail, allowing the winner up his inner.

Afterwards Duke Of Marmalade's jockey John Murtagh was quoted in a media report as saying: "I said to him (O'Donoghue) 'when you get to the four marker just ease off and give me the passage through'. It's what Ballydoyle's all about. Colm's in Ballydoyle seven days a week and knows my horse as well as he knows his own."

There was some criticism of the O'Brien team's strategy afterwards, and the BHA have decided there is enough in the matter to merit an inquiry. However, they have stressed that their concerns are with the Juddmonte and no other race.

"We have completed the review process and written to Aidan O'Brien and Colm O'Donoghue confirming they will need to appear before the disciplinary committee in connection with a possible breach of Rule 153 (iv) in the Juddmonte," said BHA spokesman Paul Struthers yesterday.

"We are obviously conscious of the interest this will generate, but, having reviewed the video and read comments attributed to John Murtagh in the press, it was felt that a formal inquiry had to be held.

"This is the first time we have reviewed a race for a possible breach of 'team tactics' since the rules were changed in 2007," he added.

O'Brien could not be contacted last night while O'Donoghue declined to comment, except to say he had not heard anything from the BHA in connection with the matter.

Duke Of Marmalade is due to run this Saturday in the Tattersalls Millions Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown, where Red Rock Canyon is again expected to act as a pacemaker for his stable companion.

O'Brien's habit of being multi-represented in races has provoked controversy in some circles with accusations being levelled of unfair team tactics.