The National Hunt season is only beginning, and already there's a major story, with the Cheltenham Gold Cup favourite Kemboy unable to race.
The reason is that the horse's owners, the Supreme Horse Racing Club, have been suspended from making entries or declarations.
The governing body, Horse Racing Ireland, issued a directive in July whereby they wanted names, addresses, phone numbers and a share breakdown held in ownership of every horse in training.
Horse Racing Ireland has now suspended the Supreme Horse Racing Club following allegations by some members of financial impropriety, over-subscription of shares and the falsifying of information regarding ownership percentages.
Supreme Horse Racing club lists ownership of 29 horses. The syndicate has around 500 members. The syndicate was formed by Steve Massey and Jim Balfry in 2011.
Kemboy, trained by Willie Mullins in County Carlow, has been favourite for the 2020 Cheltenham Gold Cup.
The promising chaser is likely to be on the sidelines until Horse Racing Ireland and the Supreme Horse Racing Club resolve the matter.
Jockey Ruby Walsh rode the horse in his last ever race, as the chaser took the Punchestown Gold Cup earlier this year, defeating Al Boum Photo in a thrilling finish.
