Hammond in dark as Catterick stewards withdraw his runners after vet's report

Micky Hammond was in the dark as two of his horses were stopped from running in Catterick's 3m1½f handicap hurdle on Tuesday because stewards reckoned The Sting and It's All About Me "appeared to show evidence of possible administration of a substance around the mouth".

Only normal food and water are allowed on racedays, so stewards interviewed Hammond's staff, the on-course vet and the equine welfare and integrity officer.

They could not be satisfied the pair had taken on only permitted substances, so ordered their withdrawal.

Hammond was not at Catterick, instead feeling unwell at his North Yorkshire yard.

From there, he said: "I don't really know the story because I'm not at Catterick, Gemma [Hogg, assistant trainer] is, so I can't really say anything.

"Not to my knowledge have we done anything wrong, but I'm not there."

The stewards ordered The Sting and It's All About Me to be tested and referred the matter to the BHA's head office in London.

"If they are the rules, they are the rules," added Hammond.