'Shark' Hanlon© Photo Healy Racing
Trainer John Hanlon plans to appeal the suspended 18-month penalty handed out by the referrals committee of the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board following a hearing on Wednesday.
A sample taken from the Hanlon-trained Camlann following his victory at the Galway Festival on August 2 was found to contain cobalt, a substance that while found in supplements that contain low levels, is prohibited in a horse on raceday when above an internationally-agreed level.
A statement from the referrals committee said that “the current case in question was serious in nature resulting in a strong argument for the withdrawal of licence from the trainer”.
The report from the committee said that in his evidence, Hanlon stated the horse was receiving an oral supplement which contained cobalt and vitamin B12, but that it was not administered to the horse on the day of the race and that he did not know the source of the adverse analytical finding.
Co. Carlow-based Hanlon — best known for his handling of multiple graded-race winner Hidden Cyclone and likewise Luska Lad — immediately signalled his intention to appeal.
He said: “The only comment I’m making is that we’re definitely going to appeal.
“My reason being it was only three over the threshold of a hundred and we’ve got to appeal.”
Camlann was disqualified from the race in question, the Open Gate Pure Brew Handicap, with original runner-up Make It Hurrah promoted to first place.
Having elected to use its powers to suspend the ban for three years, Hanlon was advised that “should he come to the notice of the referrals committee for a similar breach within three years of today’s date the 18-month suspension will be activated in addition to any further sanction imposed for the later breach”.
