Investigation reveals source of banned substance behind controversial withdrawal of Galway Hurdle favourite

An investigation into Petrol Head's late withdrawal from this year's Galway Hurdle has concluded that the Katy Brown-trained hurdler had ingested the banned substance clenbuterol when in the care of his owner.

Petrol Head, who had been heavily backed from overnight prices as big as 16-1 into 5-1 favourite, was controversially withdrawn by order of the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (IHRB) on the day of the €270,000 contest after it emerged he tested for a prohibited substance when winning a Bellewstown contest that guaranteed his place in the race the previous month.

Brown later revealed the detected substance was clenbuterol and it was identified via a hair sample, which can throw up substances dating back across a much longer timespan than a urine sample. Clenbuterol is banned on raceday but is a commonly used equine medicinal substance.

An IHRB investigation found that the substance originated from when the horse was administered Ventipulmin, which is used to treat respiratory issues, "when Petrol Head was reported to have been in the care of his owner" after Brown retrospectively provided a copy of the prescription from earlier in the year.

The investigation was satisfied that the presence of the substance was "consistent with therapeutic use as documented and verified by the veterinary surgeon," but the detailed medication records submitted by the trainer before the Galway Hurdle contained no reference to clenbuterol, and there were no veterinary medical records to explain the detection before the horse's withdrawal.

Following the investigation and taking account of all available evidence, the IHRB will not be taking further action in respect of the adverse analytical finding.

Petrol Head was previously owned and trained by Ronan McNally, who is serving a 12-year ban for integrity breaches with the final four years suspended on appeal.

He had been one of the horses central to the IHRB's case against County Armagh native McNally, who was found to own the horse when it was running for David Dunne despite not being correctly registered as such. Petrol Head has recently been running for Brown in the ownership of Orchard Garden Syndicate.

Read these next:

'I feel completely hard done by' - trainer fumes at IHRB as Galway Hurdle favourite is withdrawn after positive sample emerges 

IHRB has put its neck on the line with Petrol Head decision - and it now has one big question to answer 

The Racing Post is now available to follow on WhatsApp channels! 

Follow Racing Post Insider on WhatsApp and you can now start receiving messages and alerts for the latest news, tips, insights, live reactions and much more. Click the group link and get Racing Post notifications straight to your phone via WhatsApp.