‘Horrified and dismayed’ owners pull race horses from Gordon Elliott

A picture emerged at the weekend of the trainer sitting on a dead horse

Alex Pattle
Tuesday 02 March 2021 10:19 EST
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Trainer Gordon Elliott at Cheltenham in 2020
Trainer Gordon Elliott at Cheltenham in 2020 (Getty Images)

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Cheveley Park Stud have become the first major owner to pull horses from Gordon Elliott after a picture of the trainer sitting on a dead horse surfaced online.

Eight race horses have been removed from Elliott and will be shared between Henry de Bromhead and Willie Mullins, according to Chevely Park director Richard Thompson – son of Patricia Thompson, the stud’s owner.

“We made a decision this morning to move the horses from Gordon’s yard ... we’re organising it right now,” Richard Thompson told Sky Sports.

READ MORE: Jockey apologises for video of him sitting on dead horse in wake of Elliott controversy

“The big horse, Envoi Allen, will go to Henry with Sir Gerhard to Willie. Quilixios will go to Henry. With trainers like Henry and Willie, along with Chris [Richardson, managing director] and team, we have real professionals on the job to hopefully resolve this very quickly and for it to be very smooth.

“It is unfortunate timing,” Thompson added, referencing the upcoming Cheltenham festival, where unbeaten Envoi Allen will be a favourite.

Cheveley Park said in a statement on Monday that they were “horrified and dismayed” at the image of Elliott.

The British Horseracing Authority suspended Elliott’s runners amid an investigation by the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board, giving Cheveley Park Stud another reason to remove horses from the trainer.

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