Truth could hurt trainer

TRAINER Steve Gollings was left "angry and baffled" after the stewards' surprise decision to refer him to Portman Square over…

TRAINER Steve Gollings was left "angry and baffled" after the stewards' surprise decision to refer him to Portman Square over the withdrawal of In Truth at Doncaster yesterday.

The stewards were not happy over the circumstances of the gelding's defection, on veterinary grounds, from the Vulrory's Clown Handicap Chase.

Having heard Gollings' evidence, inspected the veterinary certificate and heard evidence from the clerk of the course Charlie Moore, they referred the matter to the stewards of the Jockey Club for further investigation.

Stewards' secretary Anthony Gillam said: "The stewards felt the vet's certificate needed corroboration.

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"There were no problems with the certificate itself, which was faxed to us, but the stewards weren't happy with the circumstances surrounding it. It is true that Mr Gollings had been telephoning in the morning checking on the ground."

Gollings said: "I'm annoyed that they've done this and I'm baffled as to the reasons. I was out on the gallops when my wife found the horse cast in his box when she went to feed him this morning. She contacted the vet and he was happy to issue the certificate

"I did telephone the course in the morning but that was because I had two runners. I needed to make an accurate assessment of the going which is not always forthcoming."

. Warren Marston was injured in a schooling accident yesterday and misses the plum ride on Nahthen Lad in the Tommy Whittle Chase at Haydock today.

Marston was badly bruised and shaken in a fall during a schooling session on his boss Jenny Pitman's gallops.