The Fergal O’Brien-trained Sixmilebridge has failed a dope test and been disqualified from his Trials Day win at Cheltenham at the end of January – but is still on course to run at the Cheltenham Festival.
Sixmilebridge Tests Positive For A Banned Substance
Exciting 6 year-old Novice Hurdler Sixmilebridge went into many a notebook after romping away with the Classic Novices’ Hurdle at Trials Day at Cheltenham on January 25th, but it’s since come to light that the horse has tested positive for a banned substance.
This has resulted in Sixmilebridge being disqualified from his latest win – where he had the promising Potters Charm 8 lengths back in second (watch below).
With his trainer Fergal O’Brien stating that the banned substance was to do with a joint injection the horse had three weeks before Trials Day.
O’Brien has also ordered pre-race testing to take place on all his Cheltenham Festival runners to make sure all bases a covered for his Festival entries next week.
WATCH: Sixmilebridge Winning At Cheltenham On Trials Day
His trainer Fergal O’Brien told the Nick Luck podcast
“We had a positive A and B sample and the BHA are doing an ongoing investigation.
“He had a joint infection three weeks before and we’re fairly certain that’s where it’s come from. It’s disappointing and I’ve apologised to the owners and jockey [Kielan Woods]. Everyone at home was devastated by it and we want to put it right.
“He can legally run next week and all our Cheltenham runners will be tested by ourselves to cover every base. He’s very well at home and Kielan feels he’s in a great place.”
Adding
”It’s disappointing for the owners and I apologise to the owners, it’s disappointing to the jockey, Kielan Woods, and everyone at home is pretty devastated about it. We have to put it right now and that’s what we’re going to try and do.
“He’s not excreted [the medication] as well as he should’ve done, or we thought he would’ve done.
“He can legally run next week. It was a perfectly legal injection that we used on the horses and we’ve chosen to do elective testing on all of our Cheltenham runners. We’ll take a urine test at home and they’ll be tested in Newmarket, so we’re trying to cover every base so that it doesn’t happen again.”
Despite His Ban, Sixmilebridge Still On Course To Run At The Cheltenham Festival
However, the good news for his owners ‘The Megsons’ is that Sixmilebridge is still legally allowed to win next week at the Cheltenham Festival – where he’s currently around 14/1 with the best horse racing betting sites in the UK for the Turners Novices’ Hurdle – which will be run on Wednesday 12th March.
Final Demand and The New Lion currently head the market for the Turners Novices’ Hurdle.
