{"piano":{"sandbox":"false","aid":"u28R38WdMo","rid":"R7EKS5F","offerId":"OF3HQTHR122A","offerTemplateId":"OTQ347EHGCHM"}}

Any Currency loses Cheltenham Festival title due to prohibited substance


  • Any Currency has been stripped of his Cheltenham Festival title.

    Aiden Coleman rode the 13-year-old gelding to victory in the Glenfarclas Cross-Country Chase on 16 March this year.

    However, the horse tested positive for a prohibited substance in a drugs test following the win.

    A British Horseracing Authority (BHA) disciplinary panel today (25 August) disqualified Any Currency from the race, meaning that that runner-up Josies Orders, ridden by Nina Carberry, will be placed first.

    Breaching of this type of substance rule on racedays usually carries a fine of between £750 – £10,000 as well as disqualification. But the panel ordered that no fine be paid by Any Currency’s trainer, Martin Keighley, who was cleared of any wrong-doing.

    A statement from the BHA press office said the panel’s written reasons “will follow in due course”.


    Popular articles:


    What happened?

    Any Currency tested positive for triamcinolone acetonide (TCA), a synthetic corticosteroid (news, 7 July).

    The substance is a controlled medication under BHA rules, meaning it can legitimately be used in equine practice and horses in training for various therapeutic reasons, but must not be present in a horse’s system on raceday.

    After it was revealed that the case would be heard by a BHA disciplinary panel, Mr Keighley wrote on his blog on 7 June that the horse was given the treatment for mild arthritis in his hocks 42 days before the race.

    Under BHA rules, the minimum time between treatment and when a horse can race again is 14 clear days. However, the BHA stated that the minimum stand-down period does not necessarily equate to the detection time.

    More to follow

    Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout major shows like London International and more with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

    You may like...