Gordon Elliott set for Cheltenham Festival ban but horses could still run under a caretaker

Gordon Elliott is expected to be barred from the Cheltenham Festival immaterial of the outcome of Friday’s hearing against the Irish trainer.

The 42-year-old faces the prospect of a fine and/or suspension when an Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (IHRB) meets to discuss the image of him sitting on a dead horse while take a phone call.

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) had said that Elliott would be banned from having runners in Britain while the investigation was ongoing but are now preparing to block him from Cheltenham even if he does not have his licence temporarily removed following the hearing.

Some of Elliott’s star-studded stable of horses at Cullentra House have already moved to the tutelage of fellow trainers Willie Mullins and Nick de Bromhead but others could yet run at the Festival under a caretaker.

Despite his actions, Elliott has received backing from some owners, among them Michael O’Leary, owner of Tiger Roll, and more recently Philip Reynolds, who has eight horses at Elliott’s yard.

In a statement, Reynolds said: “I know no matter what I say there will be folks who believe no punishment will be strong enough. I accept their view. Mine is from a sense of forgiveness.

“The authorities will deal with Gordon but his trial has already played out. We have stripped him bare and flogged him in public. The scars of this week are his ultimate punishment, ones that will live with him long after we have all moved on to the next event.

“I will stay with Gordon and I hope we can all find it in our hearts not to destroy him. He’s only human.”

Meanwhile, fellow Irish trainer Ted Walsh said the Elliott he had seen in the photograph in question was not the one he knew.

“The Gordon Elliott I know is a man who looks after his horses and makes sure they get top-class care,” he told RTE. “My experience of being in Gordon’s yard a couple of times is that it’s a first-class outfit.

“It’s like a five-star hotel… and they love the horses. I’ve known him since he was 16 and that’s not the man that I know from going racing or the man I go and visit in his yard, or the fella I see looking after his horses.”

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