Ned O'Sullivan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I wish all the Irish people attending Cheltenham enjoyable and safe visits. I also hope our trainers, jockeys and owners have a successful Cheltenham. There has been controversy of late regarding allegations of wrong-doing in stables. That will be all unravelled in due course, but Mr. Willie Mullins issued a worrying statement yesterday. As we all know, he is one of the leading national hunt trainers on these islands, if not the best. He stated that he was concerned about the possible nobbling of his horses in the run up to Cheltenham. He mentioned that it was a serious concern for other leading trainers as well. There are suspicions that gentlemen or ladies are prowling around and interfering with horses to try to make money out of poor performances.

The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Coveney, should interest himself in this matter and look into it, and he should also send out inspectors to check that everything is in order in stables. He should ensure, perhaps in conjunction perhaps with the Minister for Defence or the Minister for Justice and Equality, there is vigilance in respect of our leading racing stables in the lead-up not only to Cheltenham but to all other major festivals where there are nefarious people trying to make an easy shilling.