Trainer left fuming after The Tartan Spartan is prevented from running

Irish trainer Andrew Hughes penned an unfortunate entry in the book of pointless journeys after making the 380-mile trip from Kells, County Kilkenny, to Musselburgh, Scotland – only for his runner to be turned away.

The Tartan Spartan, brought over by ferry from Belfast to run on the first day of racing in Britain since the equine flu outbreak, could not race as his documentation failed to comply with new BHA regulations.

"Before the horse headed for Musselburgh we were told we needed to have our vaccinations in order, as well as a declaration form stating the horse's temperature was normal and that he was showing no clinical signs of being unwell," said Hughes.

"When the horse arrived at Musselburgh, between ten and half past ten on Tuesday evening, my box driver phoned to say he was not allowed to bring the horse into the stable yard."

"I spoke to David Sykes [the BHA's director of equine health and welfare] and was told we required evidence of a negative nasal swab for the horse to run.

"This was an extra criteria as far as we were concerned and something we were not made aware of on Tuesday."

There was a double blow for Daryl Jacob when The Tartan Spartan was withdrawn at 8.45am on Wednesday morning.

Not only did he miss out on his only ride of the day, but he could not benefit from a non-runner bonus, which the BHA extended to all horses withdrawn after 9am due to the new equine flu regulations.

"There was clearly a lack of communication," Hughes claimed. "It's very upsetting for the owner Jimmy Long, who is from Scotland, for me and for Daryl, who appeared to have a very good chance of winning the race."

Musselburgh clerk of the course Harriet Graham said: "The Tartan Spartan wasn't allowed to run because his paperwork wasn't in order.

"At the moment all intended Irish runners in Britain need to have a certificate of a negative swab for equine flu, and The Tartan Spartan didn't have one, so he was unable to run."

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