Morrison told his horse was ‘nobbled’

HUGHIE MORRISON was told that another trainer had been involved in the doping of his filly Our Little Sister in a separate dispute with an owner. The revelation emerged on the first day of a hearing that potentially could see Morrison banned for up to ten years after the horse’s positive test for anabolic steroid nandrolone. Morrison was approached by the informant after he offered a £10,000 reward for clues about how 12-1 shot Our Little Sister tested positive after finishing last at Wolverhampton on January 14. The information suggested another trainer believed the owner also had a horse in training with Morrison and would ‘nobble’ it as a means of revenge. BHA investigators interviewed the alleged trainer and her partner, an amateur jockey. Both were named as people who ‘might be of interest’ by Morrison’s QC Graeme McPherson and interviewed by the BHA. But Philip Evans, QC for the BHA, said the information was ‘not relevant’ to the case and Morrison had ‘no positive case’ against the two individuals. Morrison does not contest the positive finding for nandrolone but insists he has been the victim of a malicious act. Under BHA rules, he is held responsible if he cannot present an explanation. Morrison’s team supplied two expert witness to support their assertion that Our Little Sister could have been doped when she was left alone after a run at Southwell on January 2. The hearing concludes today but a result is not likely until after Christmas.