Butler to saddle final runners at Chelmsford on Thursday before three-month ban

John Butler will saddle his last runners on Thursday for at least three months after the disciplinary panel of the BHA handed the Newmarket trainer a suspension last week.

Butler, who has trained 32 winners earning more than £200,000 in prize-money on the Flat this year, was found in breach of rule (A) 31.2 by "deliberately misleading BHA investigating officers" relating to the withdrawal of National Anthem in a 6f novice race at Redcar in October 2017.

Full details of the trainer's breach emerged on Wednesday, with the disciplinary panel giving "only limited credit" to Butler’s admission of initially supplying misleading information to the BHA.

The panel found that lies the trainer told when first interviewed were "premeditated" and were "continually repeated and emphasised; and their motive, as eventually admitted by Butler, was to stop any further investigation into why he had endeavoured to run an injured and unfit horse in a race at Redcar".

The panel's full written reasons noted that "in our view the level of dishonesty involved for the purpose of preventing further investigation into possible misconduct is such as to warrant a more severe sanction than a fine", leading to an entry-level three-month ban.

Butler was also criticised for the “lamentable” state of his medication records, with the panel stating they "at best appear to consist of a few illegible scribbled notes and in the case of National Anthem of no entries at all". He was subsequently fined £1,000 for breaching rule (C) 13.1 relating to incomplete medical records.

After National Anthem was late into the paddock at Redcar, the starter and vet noticed the colt was lame on his right-front leg approaching the start and had a "massive swelling" to his front-left leg.

Mark Glover, the vet on duty, told raceday stewards: “I've never seen a horse arrive at the start in such a bad state in 25 years.” The horse was withdrawn and, following an inquiry, stewards reported the matter to the BHA.

The judicial panel made clear Butler had not been advised by the vets not to run the horse – who had been examined the day before the race – at Redcar, while a submission made by Butler's vet Stuart Williamson stated that "Mr Butler is a very responsible trainer when it comes to safeguarding the welfare of horses in his care".

Butler's licence is suspended for three months from Thursday but he can run Brigand and Genuine Approval at Chelmsford.

Joe Rendall, media and communications executive for the BHA, said: "Any horse John Butler has declared for December 6 will be allowed to run, but any thereafter during the suspension period would have to be transferred away from his care if they are to run."

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