'It could have been catastrophic' - IJA secretary condemns 'nobbling' act

Andrew Coonan: 'We find it extraordinary in this day in age that we would get a proposed increase of in some instances up to 350 per cent.'

Irish Jockeys Association secretary Andrew Coonan: serious welfare concerns for horse and riderCredit: Caroline Norris (racingpost.com/photos)

Irish Jockeys Association secretary Andrew Coonan believes all horses and riders competing in the controversial Tramore handicap hurdle where Viking Hoard raced under the influence of a sedative can count themselves lucky to have emerged unscathed, describing the incident as having had the potential to be catastrophic.

The Charles Byrnes-trained gelding at the centre of the damning case, revealed by the IHRB on Tuesday, was found to have 100 times the applicable International Screening Limit for acepromazine (ACP) in his system after the race – described as a "dangerous degree of sedation" in the regulator's evidence.

The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board's referrals committee accepted that the horse had been "nobbled" by an unidentified third party when left unaccompanied.

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Mark BoylanReporter

Published on 20 January 2021inNews

Last updated 20:15, 20 January 2021

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