KEMBOY will carry newly-registered blue and yellow silks when he reappears on the racecourse, most likely in the Grade 1 Savills Chase at Leopardstown’s Christmas Festival, a race he won last year.

The name of Ireland’s top-rated chaser will appear in the entries for that three-mile race when they are published next Monday. Kemboy was ineligible to race in recent weeks due to the collapse of Supreme Horse Racing, the ownership group which controlled up to 30 horses, all with trainer Willie Mullins.

However, Thurles solicitor Patrick Kennedy has been working with a large number of shareholders to clear up the mess and this week he successfully re-registered seven ‘Supreme’ horses with Horse Racing Ireland, forming new stand-alone syndicates.

The other six horses cleared for racing are Aramon, Cadmium, Defy De Mee, Harrie, Hybery and Robin De Carlow.

Carrick-on-Suir accountant David Skelly has been appointed agent for three of the new syndicates, including the one registered for Kemboy.

No prize money

Both Kennedy and Skelly have emphasised that the new registration is not the same as legal ownership of the horses. The new syndicates will pay entry and training fees but they will not be allowed to claim any prize money won until at least the end of this season, allowing ample time for others to stake a claim.

Kennedy said: “Each new syndicate has opened a new account with HRI and it’s a fresh start. But that is not proof of ownership. I am in the process of drafting a letter to shareholders explaining where I see the process going.”

The solicitor says he has received “hundreds of emails” since he was asked to collate ownership details last month. “The door is still wide open for others to register a claim and produce supporting documentation.”

Skelly, who managed the successful Jack of Trumps Racing Club 15 years ago, commented: “I have been appointed the registered agent for the Aramon, Kemboy and Harri syndicates. I’m effectively a consultant and will receive a modest payment for my efforts. It’s not much hassle to be involved with the ante-post favourite for the Gold Cup.

“My primary motivation was that Irish racing would not lose any of these owners who have invested a lot of time and money already. The first stage was registration and, with Mr Kennedy and HRI, I may have a role in working out what percentage each shareholder is entitled to. That will all be part of the syndicate’s Code of Conduct, which I am drafting.”

Supreme Horse Racing was established in 2010 by Jim Balfry and Steve Massey. They enjoyed immediate success with Royal Ascot winner Pique Sous and Grade 1 jumps winners Airlie Beach and Aramon. But Kemboy’s Grade 1 chase wins at Leopardstown, Aintree and Punchestown last season took them to new heights.

However, complaints registered by shareholders relating to prize money and shareholdings, coupled with a failure by the Supreme administrators to comply with Horse Racing Ireland’s requests for more information, led to the Supreme account being frozen in October and a ban placed on entries for any of their horses.