Racing chiefs are bracing themselves for negative publicity if horses from Gordon Elliott’s Cullentra House stables win at Cheltenham next week.
Last Friday, Elliott received a six-month ban - with six months suspended - from the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board after a photograph of the Co Meath trainer sitting astride a dead horse was published on social media.
Control of the stable, responsible for 32 Festival winners since 2012 - Elliott was the fixture’s leading trainer in 2017 and 2018 - passed to Denise Foster on Monday.
And British Horseracing Authority chief executive Julie Harrington admitted the controversy will resurface if Foster-trained runners are successful over the meeting’s four days.
“We want the coverage to be about the great stories and the great achievements of the horses,” said Harrington.
“We're not naive, though - we know people will have questions.
“We are really pleased that our colleagues in Ireland acted swiftly. That’s not as simple as to say, ‘Let’s draw a line under it and move on.’
“But the sanction is in place.”
Foster had the first winner in her new role when Defi Bleu scored at Wexford yesterday.
After the 4-1 shot had captured the Tomcoole Farm Ltd. Beginners Chase under Jack Kennedy, Foster said: “It's great for Jack, the horse and the whole team at Cullentra House.
“It's a great lift for the whole team, who have been doing such a great job, and I'm just delighted for each and every one of them.”
