Supreme ban remains in place as HRI awaits shareholder documentation

Horse Racing Ireland's sanction on the Supreme Horse Racing Club will continue into at least next week, meaning the prospect of Kemboy's potential return in the Ladbrokes Champion Chase at Down Royal remains in doubt.

Champion trainer Willie Mullins had not committed to running the exciting seven-year-old, who heads the Cheltenham Gold Cup ante-post market at 6-1, in the first Grade 1 of the jumps season next Saturday, as it may come too soon for him.

However, as long as HRI's ban on Supreme remains in place, preventing the ownership entity from making any entries or declarations, the decision to target the race with the three-time Grade 1 winner will remain out of Mullins' hands.

Listen Dear, whose sale at Goffs UK on Thursday may be the subject of a legal challengeCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

At least one meeting is understood to have taken place on Friday between Supreme representatives and a significant shareholder in Kemboy, who is at the centre of the controversy following allegations that his shares have been oversold.

The outcome of that meeting is unknown at this stage, while HRI has confirmed that it has yet to receive the information it requested in relation to the contact details and shareholdings of the members involved with the various Supreme horses.

It was the club’s repeated failure to furnish HRI with those details that eventually prompted the ban.

“We have had contact from Supreme Racing and they have committed to providing the information, but we haven't received that yet,” said HRI’s director of communications Jonathan Mullin on Friday.

While some members have relayed their concerns to various authorities, including the Gardai and the Criminal Assets Bureau in Ireland, it is understood no formal complaint has been lodged with the Irish authorities.

Garda sources have confirmed they are not investigating the Supreme case and it is understood that it would likely require a complaint from HRI to escalate the matter.

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