ARMED gardaí were sent to Punchestown to ensure a passport for a horse which had been seized by the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) was handed back after the horse was allowed to run, a court has heard.

There were also fears that trainer Gordon Elliott could come under pressure from a criminal gang over the horse.

The CAB was in the High Court to try to seize Labaik, alleging he was bought for €28,000 by convicted Clondalkin drug dealer John Boylan with the proceeds of crime.

Labaik won the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham in 2017.

The CAB was seeking to seize a bank account with winnings of almost €80,000, a mobile home, a house in Rathcoole Co Dublin, and a Mercedes car from Boylan.

Boylan has made a counter-claim for loss of earnings from the horse after it was subsequently run at Punchestown while its ownership was frozen and suffered an alleged career-ending injury.

In court this week Ms Justice Carmel Stewart heard from CAB’s chief superintendent Pat Clavin that Labaik’s passport had been seized after his Cheltenham win when it had investigated his ownership.

Boylan has a 90% share in the horse, while both Elliott and Aidan O’Ryan were said to have a 5% share each. It was made clear that neither Elliott nor O’Ryan have any involvement in crime.

Chief Supt Clavin said CAB was satisfied to have the horse’s passport in its possession rather than the actual horse, and to leave it in the care of Elliott. The trainer had conveyed his wish after the passport seizure that the horse be allowed race at Punchestown.

“I could not see any legitimate reason to refuse Mr Elliott to run the horse and I decided I had no reason to do that,” said Chief Supt Clavin. “It was my decision to allow the passport to be at the racecourse at all times under the supervision of members of An Garda Síochána.”