The number of trainers affected by the caffeine-contaminated feedstuffs investigation is described by the NHA’s racing control boss Arnold Hyde as “multiple.”

But a date for the hearing has still to be agreed. However a widespread belief that the trainers concerned will be charged with a breach of the rules could yet prove to be premature.

Hyde said: “No charges have been preferred yet. I am not saying that they won’t be or that they will be. That’s for the Inquiry Board to decide. My job is to put everything before the Board.”

However a number of the trainers affected are taking no chances and have already engaged ace defence lawyer Robert Bloomberg to act for them.

There have been suggestions – from certain trainers, not from the NHA - that the levels of caffeine are higher than the threshold levels by quite a significant amount. One trainer is understood to have been unhappy about the feedstuffs and so privately sent samples for analysis. The tests showed traces of caffeine and so presumably he is in the clear.

The whole matter has now been dragging on for some months and Hyde said: “Hopefully we will progress soon.”

An added complication is that the positives are expected to have included winners – unless, and this seems unlikely, they all came from non-racecourse tests – and under the rules these will have to be disqualified.

Gold Circle