Ownership of injured horse called into question during Mark Gillard hearing

The ownership of No No Tonic, the horse at the centre of this week's disciplinary hearing involving the trainer Mark Gillard, was unexpectedly called into question during Wednesday's session when Gillard asserted he held the majority share.

In an apparent attempt to correct the BHA's barrister Charlotte Davison, he told the panel: "It was an error of Ms Davison's to say the horse was owned by Mr McMullan. I own 75 per cent of this horse. She's my own horse, effectively."

That resulted in a line of questions by Davison in cross-examining Gillard, pressing him as to why he had not mentioned the fact to investigators in the weeks following No No Tonic's injury at Wincanton last year. At the time, Gillard said he had to consult the owner about her treatment.

Davison then began to press on the question of who was the officially registered owner, at which point the panel allowed some legal discussions in private. Eventually, Davison read out a statement agreed between the two sides, stating that records show Mr NJ McMullan is the sole owner.

No No Tonic: ownership disputed at hearing on WednesdayCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

Davison repeatedly pressed Gillard on what she asserted were differences between his testimony this week and what he said in March last year. Gillard told the panel details of the efforts made to care for No No Tonic after she sustained an eight-inch gash in breaking out of a horsebox, but Davison said he had not mentioned at the time that she had been moved to a different box or that she had been checked each night at 2am.

Gillard has been defending his decision to treat No No Tonic at his yard rather than call in a vet or take her to a hospital and claims that vets in his area would not criticise his actions. He told the panel that one vet had said to him, after being contacted by BHA officials: "Look Mark, just appease these people. I do not want to get involved in some investigation."

But Davison pointed out the only direct piece of evidence available from the vet in question was an email in which he told the BHA: "I can confirm that I advised Mark to take No No Tonic to a referral hospital."

The vet is said to have declined further involvement with this week's hearing, on the grounds that it "would make life awkward for him within his community".

The hearing continues.

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