Trainer named at Morrison hearing denies involvement in 'ridiculous scenario'

A small-scale trainer identified by Hughie Morrison's barrister as a "person of interest" at the Our Little Sister doping hearing on Thursday strenuously denied having anything to do with the case.

Imogen Pickard, known as Bundle, trains a small team at Kingsland in Herefordshire. She was alleged by Graeme McPherson QC to have been named by a whistleblower who claimed to have heard of a threat to 'get at' the filly.

Morrison is set to hear on Friday what, if any, punishment he will face over Our Little Sister's positive test for the anabolic steroid nandrolone earlier this year. Since the charges emerged Morrison has strongly protested his innocence and suggested he has been the victim of a malicious plot.

Pickard was interviewed by the BHA following the whistleblower's information. The BHA found no evidence to connect her to the Our Little Sister case, but she but was nevertheless named during the inquiry by McPherson, even though Morrison's representative stressed he was not claiming she "pressed the plunger" or had instructed anybody else to do so.

'Our paths have never crossed'

Pickard told the Racing Post: "I am pretty sure if the BHA had any concern whatsoever they would have taken my licence away by now.

"I have never met Hughie Morrison and I think the BHA, having investigated me deeply, have seen that I've never even had a runner on the same day as him. Our paths have never crossed. I've seen his photo in the paper now but before that I wouldn't even have recognised him if I passed him in the street.

"I have no vendetta towards Hughie Morrison, no reason to jeopardise his career or try to take horses from his yard or dope any horses in his yard. I've never even used a steroid in my life."

Pickard confirmed she had received what BHA counsel Philip Evans described as a threatening email from a private investigator assisting Morrison, and revealed she had been set to give evidence at the hearing.

She said: "Of course it has been worrying. I was called up to London halfway through day one to stand as a witness before it was decided they didn't want me.

"At the end of the day I know I am innocent, I know I have never been involved whatsoever. I was warned before the case they did not know whether my name would be brought up. It seems he is clutching at straws and this is the closest thing he has to clearing his name, passing the blame onto someone else.

"I have been brought into this ridiculous scenario and it has absolutely nothing to do with me. I have absolutely nothing to hide. I have given the BHA access to all phones and email contacts because I have no involvement with the doping of Our Little Sister."

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