Gigginstown Stud owner Michael O'Leary has reiterated that Last Instalment is on course to run in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
The high-profile owner said yesterday that he intends writing to the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) inviting them to drug-test the Philip Fenton-trained horse ahead of the National Hunt festival in two weeks' time if the cross-channel authorities feel such a move is necessary.
The authority is examining information forwarded to it by the Turf Club in relation to charges against Fenton concerning possession of unlicensed medicines which include anabolic steroids. A District Court hearing into the matter has been postponed to next month, after the Cheltenham festival, and the authority is considering what it will do in relation to the matter before the most high-profile meeting of the season.
The authority has not ruled out preventing Fenton from running his entries at Cheltenham. But there has also been speculation that officials could conduct a pre-festival drugs test on Gold Cup third favourite Last Instalment, a move to which O’Leary said he would have no objection.
"I intend writing to the BHA and let them know our horse is available to any testing they want to do, if they feel it has to be done," said the Ryanair boss. He also stressed yesterday that his Gigginstown Stud operation has nothing to hide when it comes to medication.
Presumption of Innocence
"Providing the ground is suitable at Cheltenham, the horse [Last Instalment] will run in the Gold Cup. He's
10 now and was off for two years,” said O’Leary. He added: “It’s tough for Philip [Fenton] but we feel duty-bound to support him. Whatever substances have been found that is a case for Philip to deal with, but there is no reason for us to doubt his innocence.”
Last week another of Ireland's leading owners Barry Connell said neither of the two horses he has in training with Fenton, including The Tullow Tank – a leading novice hurdler this season – will run again until the court case involving the trainer has been resolved. Although both horses remain in training with Fenton.
That move was applauded by champion trainer Willie Mullins over the weekend.
In a column for the Racing Post , Mullins, who trains several high-profile horses for Gigginstown including yesterday's Grade Two Naas winner Mozoltov, said: "I hugely admire Barry Connell's stance in coming out during the week and stating The Tullow Tank won't be going to Cheltenham next month.I can fully understand where Barry is coming from . . . I strongly feel Irish racing doesn't need this issue hanging over its head in the run-up to Cheltenham, and with the other big jumps festivals and the 2014 flat season approaching."
‘Unfortunate’ timing
O’Leary described it as “unfortunate” that it has taken almost two years for charges against Fenton to make it to court and said the timing of the case, just before Cheltenham, and with Fenton in possession of Ireland’s big hope for glory in the Gold Cup was regrettable.
“The timing of this whole episode is very unfortunate, coming so close to Cheltenham,” he said.
Turf Club chief executive Denis Egan confirmed that Irish racing's regulatory body has forwarded material on the Fenton case to the BHA. He also pointed out that that Last Instalment's post-race drug test after the horse won the Hennessy Gold Cup at Leopardstown earlier this month was negative.
"The BHA were looking for routine stuff such as what Philip Fenton has been charged with, any potential penalties there might be for him, and details of dope tests we have taken on his horses," said the Turf Club chief executive.
Egan also pointed out that how under BHA rules, the British ruling body are entitled to perform tests on horses entered for races in Britain, even if they are trained in another jurisdiction.
