Gamble foiled by Wolverhampton stewards

Ex-Irish trained horse Bert Trick was withdrawn from a handicap at Wolverhampton on Thursday evening after intervention by the British Horseracing Authority.

On-course stewards gave Bert Trick's trainer Frank Sheridan the opportunity to withdraw the gelding 40 minutes before the race and he did so.

Sheridan, who trains at Wolverhampton, took the advice after being told the horse would be under investigation by the BHA. Bert Trick had been backed off-course throughout the day from 33/1 down to as low as 7/2 prior to his withdrawal.

The horse had gained his handicap rating (50) following three runs in a 16-day spell in August 2011 when trained by Liam McAteer in Co. Meath and had been off the track ever since (797 days).

In those three races he only beat one horse home and coincidently that was in an auction maiden on the all-weather at Dundalk when his price shortened from 100/1 in the morning to an SP of 20/1.

The BHA issued a Press Release today regarding the incident:

Robin Mounsey, Media Manager for the British Horseracing Authority (BHA), said:

“Following up on information received yesterday, BHA initiated an investigation into the horse Bert Trick (IRE) and its eligibility to race in Britain.

“In light of the on-going investigation the Stewards at Wolverhampton asked Bert Trick (IRE)'s trainer Frank Sheridan to withdraw the horse.

“We are aware of the effect on punters of the late withdrawal of a horse from any race. Our priority was to protect the interests of the betting public and other participants in the race by preventing an ineligible horse from running.

"The investigation is on-going and in line with BHA policy, no further comment will be made.”

The trainer's website www.franksheridanhorseracing.com states today that "Bert Trick was not allowed to run yesterday by the BHA based on information and photographs received from somebody in Ireland claiming the horse had been flapping racing..."