THE Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (IHRB) could face legal action from connections of handicap hurdler Petrol Head following the conclusion of the IHRB’s investigation into an adverse analytical finding in a post-race drugs test returned earlier this summer.

Trained by Katy Brown, Petrol Head made headlines on Galway Hurdle day when the IHRB scratched the horse from the feature race just hours before the start. The horse had been heavily backed beforehand.

The decision to remove the horse from the Galway race was taken because the IHRB had just learned that the post-race sample taken from Petrol Head following his recent Bellewstown success had returned positive for a banned susbstance.

An IHRB statement issued at the time said: “Following notification from LGC Laboratories of a screening finding in a post-race sample taken from Petrol Head at Bellewstown on July 6, 2024, the IHRB immediately commenced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the screening finding.

“At 11am on Thursday, August 1, the IHRB received confirmation from LGC Laboratories of the presence of a prohibited substance in the sample taken at Bellewstown. As a result of this confirmation of a prohibited substance and following the IHRB investigation into the matter, the directors of the IHRB have withdrawn Petrol Head from the Galway Hurdle under the provisions of Rule 21 of the Rules of Racing.”

At the time Brown told the press she believed she was being unfairly harrassed because Petrol Head had formerly been trained by Ronan McNally, who was given a 12-year disqualification by the IHRB in 2023.

“There is no connection there,” Brown said at the time. “To be honest, I’ve had a nightmare of a week with the IHRB. They’ve been chasing me around the country. They’ve been harassing my staff.”

She added: “All that showed up in that horse’s sample was clenbuterol, which is a syrup. It actually showed up in a hair sample, not in the urine. The hair samples go back a while so, therefore, I definitely didn’t give the horse anything anyway.”

There were reports circulating this week that the Bellewstown prize money had been paid out to connections and they had received correspondence that the case was closed.

Yesterday the IHRB issued a statement saying it had completed “a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding a confirmed adverse analytical finding in respect of the horse Petrol Head”.

The statement confirmed that a hair sample taken at Bellewstown “confirmed the presence of clenbuterol.”

Clenbuterol is prohibited at all times under the Rules of Racing unless the use can be traced to the clinical treatment of the horse with an authorised medicine which has been properly recorded in the medicines register maintained by the trainer and verified in writing by the stable’s veterinary surgeon.

Ahead of the Galway Festival, all trainers with entries in the Galway Plate and Galway Hurdle were requested by the IHRB to submit detailed medication records for their horses in those races prior to declarations. The records provided in respect of Petrol Head contained no reference to clenbuterol, the IHRB said.

“Following confirmation from LGC Laboratories of the adverse analytical finding, the absence of veterinary medical records or any other evidence to explain the presence of clenbuterol in the sample led to the horse being prevented by the Directors of the IHRB from running in the Guinness Handicap Hurdle.”

Prescription

Brown subsequently provided a copy of a prescription noting Ventipulmin, which contains clenbuterol, indicating the administration of the product earlier in the year, when Petrol Head was reported to have been in the care of his owner.

“Upon receipt of the copy prescription, the IHRB undertook further investigation to verify the prescription details and to gather information from the prescribing veterinary surgeon regarding the use of the drug, including the quantity supplied and the reason for its use. The IHRB veterinary team then located the horse and took a tail hair sample from him for further detailed laboratory analysis.

“That analysis has now been completed and the results received. As a result, the IHRB has been able to satisfy itself that the presence of clenbuterol in the hair samples taken from Petrol Head is consistent with therapeutic use, as documented and verified by the veterinary surgeon. Following the investigation and taking account of all available evidence, the IHRB will not be taking further action in respect of this adverse analytical finding.

“The trainer has been reminded of her obligations under the Rules, in particular those pertaining to the recording of the administration of medication to horses in her care.”

Asked by The Irish Field for her reaction to the IHRB statement and investigation, Brown said: “I have been advised by my solicitor not to make any comment at the moment.”