STEPHEN McConville, a trainer in Portadown, Co Armagh, and his son Michael have been charged by the British Horseracing Authority over a drug test taken from their horse Anseanachai Cliste at the Cheltenham Festival which returned positive for cobalt.

Cobalt is an essential trace dietary mineral required by all mammals, including horses. Trace amounts are also found in feedstuffs. However, the substance has been at the centre of a number of high-profile failed drug tests in Australian racing. In humans, cobalt has the potential to increase the production of red blood cells.

A prolific point-to-point winner Anseanchai Cliste was withdrawn from the Foxhunters at Cheltenham last March by order of the stewards who were "not satisfied that the horse had been administered only normal feed and water on raceday".

Nine days later the horse won the Ulster National at Downpatrick.

Today, the BHA issued the following statement:

On 19 September 2017 the Disciplinary Panel of the British Horseracing Authority will meet to consider charges against Responsible Person Michael McConville and Restricted Licence Trainer Stephen McConville as below.

Michael McConville

1. Whether Mr Michael McConville, the Responsible Person, is in breach of Rule (G)2.1 of the Rules of Racing by virtue of the fact that cobalt, a Prohibited Substance pursuant to Rule (G)16, was identified above the permitted threshold in a urine sample taken from horse ANSEANACHAI CLISTE (IRE) before it was declared to run in the St. James Place Foxhunters Challenge Cup Open Steeplechase race at the Cheltenham Festival on 17 March 2017?

2. Whether Mr Michael McConville is in breach of Rule (G)2.5 of the Rules of Racing by virtue of the administration, or by allowing or causing the administration, or conniving in the administration of Prohibited Substances to horse ANSEANACHAI CLISTE (IRE) at a prohibited time?

3. Whether Mr Michael McConville is in breach of Rule (G)2.6 of the Rules of Racing by virtue of the fact that Prohibited Substances were discovered in his possession whilst on a racecourse, on raceday?

4. Whether Mr Michael McConville is in breach of Rule (A)31 of the Rules of Racing by virtue of his attempts to obstruct the proper administration or control of racing specifically by deliberately misleading, or endeavouring to mislead:

i.the Stewards during the Stewards Enquiry; and/or

ii. an employee of the British Horseracing Authority acting in his official capacity?

5. Whether Mr Michael McConville is in breach of Rule (C)28 of the Rules of Racing on the basis that he failed to act in the interests of horse ANSEANACHAI CLISTE (IRE)’s best health and welfare by administering substances, namely Adrenal Cortex, without veterinary consultation or advice?

Stephen McConville

1. Whether, Mr Stephen McConville, a Restricted Licence Trainer, is in breach of Rule (G)2.5 of the Rules of Racing by virtue of the administration, or by allowing or causing the administration, or conniving in the administration of Prohibited Substances to horse ANSEANACHAI CLISTE (IRE) at a prohibited time?

2. Whether Mr Stephen McConville is in breach of Rule (G)2.6 of the Rules of Racing by virtue of the fact that Prohibited Substances were discovered in his possession whilst on a racecourse, on raceday?

3. Whether Mr Stephen McConville is in breach of Rule (A)31 of the Rules of Racing by virtue of his attempts to obstruct the proper administration or control of racing specifically by deliberately misleading, or endeavouring to mislead:

i. the Stewards during the Stewards Enquiry; and/or

ii.an employee of the British Horseracing Authority acting in his official capacity?

4. Whether Mr Stephen McConville was complicit, pursuant to Rule (G)2.9 of the Rules of Racing, in assisting, aiding and/or engaging the Responsible Person for horse ANSEANACHAI CLISTE (IRE) in violations of the equine anti-doping rules, to include in addition to those violations already listed, breach of Rule (G)2.1 of the Rules of Racing?

MORE ON THIS STORY IN THE IRISH FIELD NEXT WEEKEND