Balnaslow formally disqualified

TRAINER trainer Graham McKeever was handed a £1,500 fine at the conclusion of disciplinary proceedings concerning the horse’s positive test for cobalt.

The long-running case was launched in 2018 by the British Horseracing Authority after the banned substance showed up in a sample, following the veteran’s win in the Foxhunters’ Chase at Aintree’s Grand National meeting.

The hearing was told McKeever, who has 16 horses in training, didn’t know Balnaslow had tested positive until investigators arrived at his yard in May of that year. No evidence of cobalt was found at the stables and the other horses tested were clear.

Via Zoom, from his base in Ireland, McKeever said he could not provide evidence to back up his view that the feed may have been contaminated.

Gain to sponsor at Cork

GAIN Equine Nutrition will sponsor all seven races at Cork on January 2nd. The Gain Equine Nutrition Handicap Hurdle will be worth €25,000. Cork Racecourse manager Andrew Hogan said: “Gain have been long time major sponsors of the racing sector and we are very excited to collaborate with them for the opening fixture of the year.”

Russell’s hospital date

DAVY Russell hopes to have a better idea of when he can expect to return to action when he has further X-rays on his injuries next Thursday.

Russell has been on the sidelines since October when dislocating and fracturing vertebrae in a first-fence fall in the Munster National at Limerick aboard Doctor Duffy.

The three-times champion jockey damaged his C6 and C7 vertebrae and dislocated his T1 meaning he needed traction to get everything back into its rightful place.

“I’m getting on fine, I’m in very little pain, I have good movement and I’m doing as much exercise as I’m allowed,” said Russell. “I’m heading back on December 17th to get more X-rays and to see how it’s all going and to see what sort of date we are looking at.”

Provisional PTP fixtures

THE full provisional summary of point-to-points for the spring season has been published and can be viewed on the ihrb.ie website. The first of 78 scheduled fixtures is at Ballindenisk on January 3rd.

Colin Bowe wins award

COLIN Bowe is the latest recipient of the Willie Stephenson Memorial Trophy from Goffs UK. The award goes to the person deemed to have made the biggest contribution to the sales company in the previous year. Champion point-to-point handler, Bowe has been a great supporter of the Goffs UK sales at Aintree and Doncaster.

Willie Mullins honoured

WILLIE Mullins was named Jumps Trainer of the Year by the British racing press this week. Mullins was crowned leading trainer at Cheltenham for the seventh time this year and his Friday four-timer was headed by Gold Cup hero Al Boum Photo.