Syndicate takes claim against Dan Skelton over £42,000 payment to High Court

A syndicate of six owners is taking its claim against trainer Dan Skelton over the sale of a horse to the High Court in London.

The syndicate paid £130,000 for George Gently in October 2016 after the juvenile hurdler had finished second for Skelton on his debut at Enghien in France the previous month when owned by David Futter's Yorton Farm Stud and Chris Edwards.

The hurdler went on to develop a serious tendon injury, and after returning with two below-par runs at Southwell and Kempton in 2018, was sold for £1,800 at the Goffs UK Spring Horses in Training Sale in May that year.

The syndicate claims in a subsequent conversation Futter told Tony Holt, leader of the syndicate, that Skelton owned one-third of the horse at the time he was bought by Holt's syndicate – unbeknown to the syndicate – and received the equivalent amount from the sale proceeds.

Futter subsequently denied that, while Skelton's legal team reportedly told Holt's lawyers that the £42,033 the trainer invoiced Futter – equivalent to one-third of the £130,000 minus a bloodstock agent's commission plus VAT – was "in lieu of training fees incurred by Yorton-owned horses in Skelton's yard". Skelton denies he was a part-owner of George Gently.

The case is also against the trainer's racing operation Dan Skelton Racing and Alne Park Stud, Futter, vet Paolo Guasco and the vet's then employer Summerhill Equine Veterinary Partnership.

The syndicate first lodged a formal complaint on the matter to the BHA in July 2018, more than four years ago, with the BHA sending it a letter in December 2021 stating it intended to charge Skelton with two breaches of the trainers' code of conduct in relation to his dealings with the syndicate over the sale of George Gently. No such action has officially been announced.

Holt was involved in the ownership of Superb Story, who became Skelton's first Cheltenham Festival winner when landing the County Hurdle in 2016.

Superb Story: Dan Skelton's first Cheltenham Festival winner in the 2016 County Hurdle

The syndicate has served its particulars of claim on Skelton, who has until September 26 to submit his defence. Skelton's legal team did not offer any comment when contacted by the Racing Post on Monday, while the trainer could not be reached.

A BHA spokesperson said: "The BHA does not comment on speculation surrounding investigations or potential investigations."

Read more . . .

Dan Skelton to be charged by BHA over horse sale as owners seek further censure

Dan Skelton alleges 'campaign' against him in argument over £42,000 payment

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