Gordon Elliott has apologised after an image emerged showing the trainer sitting on a dead horse.
The Meath handler confirmed on Sunday night that the image is real and was taken "some time ago".
Elliott has "apologised profoundly" and said: "The welfare of each and every horse under my care is paramount".
The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (IHRB) is currently investigating the image.
Elliott has had 32 winners at the Cheltenham Festival and was crowned the meeting's top trainer in both 2017 and 2018.
He has a strong team for Prestbury Park once again this year. Here's some of his main horses for the four-day meeting, which starts in just over two weeks' time:
Tuesday
Ballyadam - Supreme Novices' Hurdle
Ballyadam has finished behind Appreciate It in his last two runs, the most recent of which was by three and a quarter lengths at the Dublin Racing Festival. He will have to beat that rival to win the opening race of the meeting.
Abacadabras - Champion Hurdle
Runner-up to the superb Shishkin in last year's Supreme, Abacadabras will be aiming to give Elliott his first victory in the day one feature. He finished second to Honeysuckle in the Irish Champion Hurdle last month, but could get much closer to the mare on better ground.
Galvin - National Hunt Chase
Winner of a 3m½f contest at Cheltenham in October, Galvin has been towards the top of the market for the National Hunt Chase ever since. He is a best priced 7/2 to land the final race on the opening day.
Wednesday
Tiger Roll - Cross Country Chase
The two-time Grand National winner is aiming to win at the festival for a fifth time, having won this contest in 2018 and 2019, the National Hunt Chase in 2017 and the Triumph Hurdle in 2014. He finished last, over 64 lengths behind Beacon Edge at Navan last month, and looks up against it.
Sir Gerhard - Champion Bumper
Elliott won this race with Envoi Allen for Cheveley Park Stud two years ago and could do so again for the same connections this month. Sir Gerhard has won his two bumpers to date in very impressive fashion, but he'll have to beat Kilcruit.
Thursday
Envoi Allen - Marsh Novices' Chase
One of the most exciting horses in training, Envoi Allen was one of the bankers of the week when landing the 2019 Champion Bumper and the Ballymore 12 months ago. He remains unbeaten after winning his three chase starts to date and will be extremely popular with punters once again.
Samcro - Ryanair Chase
Samcro has won the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle and the Marsh Novices' Chase at Cheltenahm, but he's not certain to run at the meeting this year. The Ryanair would look the likely race for him if he does go to Gloucestershire and he would be a player.
Sire Du Berlais, The Storyteller and Fury Road - Stayers' Hurdle
Elliott has a very strong team for the day three feature with Sire Du Berlais and The Storyteller, who finished first and second in the Pertemps last year, joined by recent Boyne Hurdle runner-up Fury Road.
Friday
Zanahiyr, Quilixios and Teahupoo - Triumph Hurdle
Elliott has an even stronger team for the Triumph Hurdle with these three undefeated four-year-olds. Tritonic will have given him plenty to think about after bolting up Kempton over the weekend though.
Fakiera, Torygraph and Farouk D'alene - Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle
Fakiera finished a staying on fourth behind Gaillard Du Mesnil at the Dublin Racing Festival, while Torygraph has won his last two races and Farouk D'alene was last seen landing a Grade 2 at Limerick over Christmas.
Shattered Love - Mares' Chase
The 2018 JLT winner finished over five lengths behind Elimay at Naas last month and faces a very tough challenge to beat that rival.
As well as the above horses, Elliott also has a very strong hand in the handicaps at the festival with the likes of Escaria Ten, Grand Roi, Coko Beach, Wide Receiver, Column Of Fire, Grand Paradis and Eskylane.
