Cheltenham security on Mullins’ mind

Trainer Willie Mullins will be taking the same security precautions as always as he sends his strongest ever team over to the Cheltenham Festival next week.

The Closutton maestro expects to take around 40 horses to the home of National Hunt racing but admits the threat of one of his horses being drugged is never far from his thoughts.

“In any major sport, not only horse racing, there is a risk of knowledge if someone can dope or nobble a major player or team, then they can sell that information or use it themselves and it is just something we are aware of all the time,” Mullins told RTÉ Radio.

“We’re probably more aware of it in racing than other sports but no more so than a major soccer team going abroad who will take care of their own food and accommodation, they keep people away from them and we are the same with horses, you’ve got to be on your guard all the time.

“We’ll have the security we always have, without going into any details, but we always have it – it’s not just this year.”

The British Horseracing Authority is responsible for security at the racecourse stables and describes the matter as of “paramount importance”.

“BHA works closely with Cheltenham Racecourse regarding security in the racecourse stables and it is a matter of paramount importance as part of our raceday integrity operation,” said BHA spokesman Robin Mounsey.

“The site is monitored by BHA Equine Welfare Integrity Officers 24 hours a day from a period well in advance of and during the Festival. The site is comprehensively monitored by a CCTV system as well as regular patrols of the stable yard.

“Should anyone have any concerns about the wellbeing or performance of a horse then the flexibility in our testing procedures allows for those horses to be sampled, either pre or post-race.”