Turf Club set to investigate Dubawi Phantom Ireland runs

The Turf Club is to carry out its own inquiry into the Paul Gilligan-trained Dubawi Phantom to deal with the fact the horse at the centre of the recently concluded BHA investigation ran three times in Ireland in 2014.

The horse's trainer Paul Gilligan was banned for six months by the independent disciplinary panel at the BHA on Monday when he was found guilty of running Dubawi Phantom – who it is alleged ran under another name at an unrecognised meeting in Ireland two years previously – in a handicap hurdle, which he won, at Uttoxeter in June 2014.

Dubawi Phantom, who has been disqualified from the Uttoxeter race, ran three times in Ireland in 2014. He twice ran at Kilbeggan before he won at Uttoxeter and ran at Sligo after the Uttoxeter race. He was declared to run at the Galway festival on July 30 2014 but was withdrawn by order of the stewards.

Dubawi Phantom at Lingfield for the Derby Trial in 2010 when trained by David SimcockCredit: Mark Cranham

It is understood the Turf Club was made aware of a possible problem relating to the identity of the horse who ran as Ayers Rock at Dingle in 2013, a meeting not recognised by the Turf Club, after his Uttoxeter victory and prior to his being declared to run at Galway.

Denis Egan, CEO of the Turf Club, said yesterday: "We were made aware of a possible problem relating to Dubawi Phantom on the morning he was due to run at Galway and ordered his withdrawal.

"Now that the case in England has reached a conclusion, we will be carrying out our own investigation into the horse having run three times in Ireland.

"We haven't yet received a request from the BHA to reciprocate the ban imposed on Paul Gilligan. If and when we do then it will be matter for our referrals committee to deal with."