Irish trainer charged over Festival dope test positive

Stephen Mcconville, a restricted licence trainer in Northern Ireland, and his son Michael have been summoned to answer charges at a British Horseracing Authority disciplinary panel hearing on Sept 19 over the withdrawal of Anseanachai Cliste at the Cheltenham Festival in March.

The nine-year-old gelding, who is owned by Michael Mcconville, was found to have cobalt, a prohibited substance, above the permitted threshold in a urine sample before it was due to run in the Foxhunter Chase.

The horse was withdrawn from the race by order of the stewards, with a BHA report stating they “could not be satisfied that the horse had been administered only normal feed and water on race day”.

The Mcconvilles face charges over allowing or causing the administration, or conniving in the administration of prohibited substances, having such items in their possession on a racecourse, on a race day and attempting to obstruct the proper administration or control of racing specifically by deliberately misleading, or endeavouring to mislead stewards and/or a BHA employee.

Anseanachai Cliste had won eight successive point-to-points prior to his arrival at Prestbury Park in March and went on to win the Ulster National at Downpatrick nine days later.

Jim Crowley, who has a 24 per cent strike rate for Sir Michael Stoute this year, has been rewarded with the ride on William Hill St Leger favourite Crystal Ocean.

Haydock Park have decided to switch Saturday’s Group One 32Red Sprint Cup from 4.10 to 2.25 in order to give the runners better ground as 20mm of rain is forecast for the morning of the race.