Grand National Festival horse is blocked from running as furious owners release scathing statement

3 weeks ago 13

THE owners of a horse prevented from running at the Grand National meeting have vented their fury on social media.

The Joseph O’Brien-trained Nurburgring was scratched by vets before the start of racing and blocked from running in the big Grade 1 Juvenile Hurdle.

Trainer Joseph O’Brien’s horse was controversially scratched at Aintree[/caption]

He was inspected by BHA vets earlier today and they were not satisfied with the way he was moving when he was trotted up.

They said he was lame and scratched him from the race – but to the displeasure of owners Bronsan Racing.

They said in a statement: “In all equine pursuits, horse welfare and the consistency of horse welfare is paramount.

“Bronsan Racing were informed this morning that Nurburgring has been deemed unfit for racing at Aintree.

“Our trainer Joseph O’ Brien and our team have conducted several additional assessments, and find no cause whatsoever for this decision.

“Our team has informed us that Nurburgring is fit to race today.

“The Aintree vets have reportedly stated that Nurburgring’s ‘action’ today in comparison with his action before his fourth-place finish at Cheltenham is different.

“Bronsan Racing have been given no evidence of how this comparison was made and there is no appeal process or procedure in place that can be availed of.”

The same owners were also left fuming at the Breeders’ Cup last November for similar reasons when their horse Givemethebeatboys was pulled out by vets on the morning of a big race.

They continued: “There is no veterinary practice or guideline in place to video and record a horse trotting up during pro-race assessment, and resultantly, no consistent means of making any realistic impartial comparison of ‘action’.

“Similar to the removal of our horse Givemethebeatboys at last year’s Breeders’ Cup, the only consistency we can see in pre-race assessment procedures, both in the US and the UK, is a lack of process.

“Bronsan Racing are as ever, sincerely grateful for the support and encouragement we continue to receive from the racing community.

“Most importantly we’re pleased to return to Ireland with the same sound and healthy horse we travelled over with, and look forward to our upcoming entries on the Irish racing calendar.”