Dylan Kitts and John Higgins found to have deliberately stopped Hillsin, but Chris Honour cleared from having any role in the conspiracy

Dylan Kitts and John Higgins have been found to have deliberately stopped Hillsin from winning at Worcester in 2023, but trainer Chris Honour has been cleared from having any role in the conspiracy.

A disciplinary panel verdict delivered on Friday after four days of deliberation concluded that Honour had misled the stewards only in the post-race inquiry. Honour's solicitor said the trainer was "mightily relieved" by the findings and that he "looks forward to getting on with the rest of his life".

The case relates to the running and riding of Hillsin in a 2m4f conditional jockeys' handicap hurdle at Worcester on July 5, 2023 in which he finished a close third.

Kitts, 24, a former conditional jockey who has not ridden since partnering Hillsin and has since left racing, admitted to stopping him from winning, telling the disciplinary panel during his evidence that it was "the worst decision in my life".

• The five most shocking details to emerge during the Hillsin hearing 

Kitts said during the hearing: "I want to reflect and apologise to the public and to the sport who have been impacted by this."

Following the release of the verdict, the BHA said it was “pleased” that Kitts and Higgins, 79, an associate of Hillsin’s registered owner Alan Clegg, had been found in breach of rule (J)25.2 for conspiring to stop Hillsin from achieving his best possible placing.

Dylan Kitts: found to have deliberately stopped Hillsin from winning at Worcester in July 2023Credit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

During his evidence, Kitts said he had followed through on the instructions from Higgins, who was not present at the hearing due to ill health and was reportedly hospitalised last week, to stop Hillsin winning due to the “perception of a threat” and that “if I had to break my neck to make sure then so be it”.

However, the disciplinary panel concluded it was satisfied “his life or personal safety was not threatened in the event that he failed to comply with the instructions” and that he had “ample opportunity” to not go ahead with the instructions “had he been minded to do so”.

The BHA said the case “strikes at the very heart” of the public’s confidence in racing being “clean and fair” and that the verdict “demonstrates that our sport will not accept this sort of behaviour”.

A spokesman said: "The actions of those involved in this case are fundamentally incompatible with British racing’s values and are an affront to the many thousands of people, up and down the country, who dedicate their lives to this sport and to competing fairly. 

"The outcome of this hearing demonstrates our sport will not accept this sort of behaviour, and we will always do what we can to uphold our values and ensure everybody who loves racing can be confident in its integrity."

The BHA had been criticised during the hearing for the length of time the case had taken to reach the disciplinary panel. The regulator described it as being an "extensive and complex investigation" in its statement, and that "vast quantities of evidence needed to be considered".

Honour was cleared of all but one charge, with the disciplinary panel deciding he had misled stewards during the post-race inquiry by agreeing with Kitts that Hillsin had been hanging in the closing stages, preventing the jockey from riding an effective finish.

The panel said: “It was a lie which could have been construed as the lie of a co-conspirator, but which in our judgment, having regard to matters to which we'll refer in our detailed reasons, was far more likely to be attributable to a desire to defend a young jockey who had been found wanting in how he should have run his race.”

Chris Honour: cleared of stopping Hillsin at Worcester

In a statement on Friday, Honour’s solicitor Daryl Cowan said: “Chris Honour is delighted and mightily relieved with the panel’s findings on the central charges concerning the stopping of Hillsin. He always knew that he played no part in whatever went on, as did all who know him in the racing world and beyond. 

“The race in question took place in July 2023 – well over two years ago now. It has been extraordinarily unpleasant and worrying for him and his family to have had such serious charges hanging over him for such a lengthy period. He looks forward to the conclusion of the case in November, and to getting on with the rest of his life, with his family and his horses. 

“He'll make a more detailed statement when he has received and considered the panel’s full reasoning.”

The BHA said it made “note” of the verdict on Honour and that “naturally [there are] going to be instances where a panel may decide some breaches are not proven” but that it was “satisfied” it was right to bring the charges it did against the trainer initially.

The BHA added: "We thank the independent disciplinary panel for their time considering this case and await full written reasons following their decision. With a sanctions hearing still to follow, the BHA will be making no further comment at this time."

Higgins did not attend any of the days of the hearing and is already on the BHA exclusion list having failed to cooperate with the investigation by not providing phone records.

Nathan Taylor, founder of NTT Sporting Investigations, said: “Mr Higgins is disappointed but not surprised by the verdict. Mr Higgins was hugely disadvantaged by not being able to attend the hearing in person due to protracted ill health, and I can now confirm that sadly he was hospitalised the evening before the hearing commenced.

"It is worth highlighting that despite a multitude of resources at their disposal, the BHA could find no evidence of any irregular betting activity by Mr Higgins.

"It is concerning also that after a two-year investigation we are no nearer to ascertaining why Hillsin was ridden in the manner he was, and that the inquiry has provided more questions than answers."

The Professional Jockeys Association (PJA), while not commenting specifically on the findings, highlighted the BHA's use of data extraction meant that any wrongdoing would be uncovered.

Chief executive Paul Struthers said: "Confidence in the sport is vital to racing’s health and while incidents such as this are rare our message to jockeys is clear – just say no. It is simply not worth jeopardising your career to ‘do as you’re told’ – the PJA can support and has supported jockeys who have been put under duress – or be otherwise involved in wrongdoing for some modest or falsely promised reward. 

“The advent of data extraction means you will almost certainly be caught, and the criminal offence of cheating at gambling puts your liberty at risk.”

A sanctions hearing will take place at a later date, as yet unspecified by the BHA but likely to be in "early to mid-November" according to the disciplinary panel.

Read these next:

Dylan Kitts suffers from anxiety and was 'naive and desperate for opportunities', says family member as Hillsin hearing concludes 

Hillsin’s alleged conspirators alarmed that rider’s performance had ‘let the cat out of the bag’ 

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