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The Referrals Committee, Mr Peter Allen (Chair), Ms Meta Osborne and Mr Michael Sheahan convened in the offices of the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board on Thursday, 19 February 2026 to consider whether Mr Muredach Kelly (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 12 November 2024, confirmed that the urine sample taken from Art Of Unity following the Equine Care Group Handicap at The Curragh on 17 October 2024 was confirmed by LGC Laboratories to contain cobalt.
The option of a ‘B’ sample analysis was requested by Mr Kelly and the presence of cobalt was confirmed by LCH Laboratories, France on 3 December 2024.
Evidence was heard from Mr Kelly, 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 an unannounced inspection of Mr Kelly’s premises on 5 November 2024. Dr Adams confirmed that Mr Kelly had cooperated fully with the investigation. Dr Adams noted that the Medicines Register was filled out to some detail but there were incomplete sections and during the inspection syringes and needles were noted on the premises.
In her evidence, Dr Hillyer explained that cobalt is a nutrient needed to metabolise Vitamin B12 and is naturally present in a horse’s diet however it is regulated when present above a population threshold because high doses can lead to performance enhancement and adverse effects on horse welfare. Dr Hillyer explained that clear advice has been given by the IHRB since the cobalt threshold’s introduction in 2017, that no more than 1 mg cobalt should be given intravenously or 5 mg by mouth the day before the race in order to be sure that the threshold will not be exceeded on raceday.
In his evidence, Mr Kelly accepted he was in breach of a number of Rules. Mr Kelly outlined his experience working in yards in Ireland, England and Japan before returning to Ireland when breaking and pre-training became his main occupation. Mr Kelly explained that he was asked to train Art Of Unity who was a horse who had previous form but had lost his way at the time. Mr Kelly stated that he had eight horses in his care at the time, four horses were in training and four were there to be broken and he could not understand how there was an Adverse Analytical Finding for the horse who had passed a test two weeks previously following his win at Bellewstown. Mr Kelly explained that he had prescriptions for the medication issued to the horses in his care however his wife completes the Medicines Register on his behalf and it was an oversight that there were some gaps in the register. Mr Kelly accepted that the passports were not present at the time for the four horses who had recently come to him to be broken but he had provided sight of photographs of the passports on his phone before the IHRB inspection concluded. Mr Kelly also confirmed that he was unaware that Trainers have not been permitted to administer intravenous injections since 2023 until he was informed of this during an IHRB inspection. Mr Kelly accepted that he had provided details of the supplements and that this did not account for the Adverse Analytical Finding.
Having considered the evidence, the Referrals Committee were satisfied that Mr Kelly was in breach of Rule 96(i) in that there was a prohibited substance in the horse on Raceday and they disqualified Art of Unity from the race in question, ordered the placings be altered accordingly and the stake forfeited. The Referrals Committee imposed a fine of €1,500 on Mr Kelly in respect of the breach of Rule 96(i). Furthermore, the Referrals Committee found Mr Kelly in breach of Rule 148(i) in that the Trainer is responsible for everything connected with the welfare, training and running of all Horses under their care and he had not provided a satisfactory explanation for the adverse finding. The Referrals Committee imposed a fine of €500 in respect of Rule 148(i). The Referrals Committee also found Mr Kelly in breach of Rule 148 (iv) for failure to complete the Medicines Register and imposed a fine of €250. A fine of €250 was also imposed on Mr Kelly for the breach of Rule 148(vii) for possession or administration of veterinary prescription only medicines. Mr Kelly was also found in breach of Rule 85(iii) in that passports were not available for inspection upon request.
The amended result of the Equine Care Group Handicap now reads:
First: Rathbranchurch
Second: Mount Ruapehu
Third: Babyface
Fourth: Stanhope(GB)
Fifth: Irish Rumour
Sixth: Saturn Seven
The case was presented by Ms Christine Traynor BL, IHRB Head of Racing Regulation and Integrity. Mr Murdeach Kelly was represented by Mr Kevin Power, Maurice Power Solicitors LLP.