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The Referrals Committee, Mr Justice Frank Clarke (Chair), Ms Meta Osborne and Mr Michael Sheahan convened in the offices of the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board on Tuesday, 10 February 2026 to consider whether Mr Melia (Trainer) was in breach of the Rules of Racing as a result of a report received from LGC Laboratories, Fordham, UK.
The report received on 24 October 2025, confirmed that the urine sample taken from Art Of Unity (GB) following the Andy Carroll Memorial Handicap at Bellewstown on 2 October 2025 was confirmed by LGC Laboratories to contain dexamethasone.
Evidence was heard from Mr Melia, Dr Lynn Hillyer, IHRB Chief Veterinary Officer and Dr Graham Adams, IHRB Deputy Head of Veterinary Operations.
In his evidence, Dr Adams provided details of the IHRB investigation which included the details and findings of an unannounced inspection of Mr Melia’s premises on 16 October 2025. Dr Adams outlined how dexamethasone was not found on the premises and there were no prescriptions or entries for the administration of dexamethasone in the Medicines Register for Art of Unity. Dr Adams also stated that Mr Melia was advised to inform any purchaser of the horse that it was the subject of an investigation, however, Mr Melia informed Dr Adams that the horse had been sold prior to him becoming aware of the finding.
In her evidence, Dr Hillyer noted that Art Of Unity came into the care of Mr Melia two weeks prior to the race although the horse had used Mr Melia’s equine hydrotherapy pool some months prior to this, and that the Trainer had properly recorded entries in the Medicine Register relating to other treatment the horse received prior to being returned in Mr Melia’s care. Dr Hillyer confirmed that the yard and equine facilities were of a high standard. Dr Hillyer explained the risk of returning a horse with unknown medication history as racing active 14 days out from raceday as there is the possibility of a longer acting medication remaining in the horse’s system and that risk could be reduced through elective testing.
In his evidence, Mr Melia explained how Art Of Unity had been on his premises to swim prior to coming into his care two weeks before the race. Mr Melia stated that he had kept a Medicines Register for any horse who visited his yard to use the swimming pool and he had not entered any medication as he was not giving the horse dexamethasone. Mr Melia confirmed he was not advised of any treatment given to the horse before coming to him. Mr Melia stated that he would avail of the option of elective testing in the future. He accepted that the breach was one of strict liability.
Having considered the evidence, the Referrals Committee were satisfied that Mr Melia was in breach of Rule 96(i) in that there was a prohibited substance on Raceday, and they disqualified Art Of Unity from the race, ordered the placings be altered accordingly and the stake forfeited. The Referrals Committee imposed a fine of €1,000 in respect of the breach of Rule 96(i). Furthermore, the Referrals Committee found Mr Melia in breach of Rule 148(iv) in that the Medicines Register was incomplete and for this breach imposed a fine of €250.
The amended result of the Andy Carroll Memorial Handicap now reads:
First: Steel Magnolia
Second: Only Spoofing
Third: Whatswrongnow
Fourth: Happy Henry
Fifth: Eruption
Sixth: El Fontenaro
The case was presented by Ms Christine Traynor BL, IHRB Head of Racing Regulation and Integrity.