Honest officer I was helping the sheep get over the fence

Horse racing is in trouble again with a dreadful own goal from leading Irish trainer Gordon Elliott. A photo 'surfaced' on Sunday showing him sat on a dead horse, talking into his phone and doing some kind of victory (or 2) sign with his fingers.

The reliable medium of Twitter was divided 50/50 as to whether the picture was photoshopped. Elliott issued a statement late on Sunday confirming it was genuine, apologising and adding-

"I was standing over the horse waiting to help with the removal of the body, in the course of which, to my memory I received a call and, without thinking,  I sat down to take it. Hearing a shout from one of my team, I gestured to wait until I was finished".

Elliott is one of those trainers who have lots of horses and a high turnover. He is also something of an outsider, having no background in racing when growing up. His achievements are admirable but may well have been completely undone by this - and his "explanation" for his actions falls firmly into the "honest officer I was just helping the sheep get over the fence" category. 

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