Best frustrated as ban on Layezy Owners Club leaves yard in difficult position

John Best said on Friday his yard had suffered a "huge blow" after the Layezy Racing Owners Club, with nine horses at his yard, was barred from having runners.

A total of 23 horses spread across several yards are affected by the BHA-imposed ban after the club's founder, Mike Stanley, filed for bankruptcy this week.

Kent-based trainer Best said he was shocked by the development after earlier reassurances that there were no issues.

He said: "I'm desperately disappointed for everyone involved. All the trainers are in the situation and none more so than us who had the most horses with them. It is a huge blow to us in every way, especially financially.

"I don't know what will happen next and how it will work. No-one seems to have an understanding of what will happen next, it is just up in the air at the moment."

Stanley's bankruptcy order has prompted fears among those who signed up to the club and also the Layezy Racing betting syndicate that they could stand to lose significant amounts of money.

Best said: "We were totally unaware of what was happening until reading about it in the papers. Even then I spoke to Mike Stanley who said there was 'nothing to worry about' and 'everything would be fine', but it certainly doesn't look that way now.

"This situation wasn't something I ever thought would happen. The members were lovely and supportive too, so I am sad for them."

The club was in operation from last April and has had a handful of runners, with Fearless the most recent when finishing fifth in a Listed bumper at Cheltenham on New Year's Day on debut for Rebecca Menzies.

Nickelsonthedime, trained by Kayley Woollacott, had been installed the top-priced 7-4 favourite for a bumper at Fakenham on Friday before the BHA barred it from running. Amy Murphy and Ivan Furtado are other trainers to have horses with the owners.

Under the rules of racing, insolvent individuals or entities are not permitted to own and run racehorses.

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