Racing: Cruelty case may see Guest banned

Troubled trainer Richard Guest may face disqualification by racing's authorities in the wake of his involvement in an animal cruelty case brought by the RSPCA last November.

Guest, best known for winning the Grand National on Red Marauder six years ago, was convicted at Durham Magistrates Court of causing unnecessary suffering after a horse in his care, What's A Filly, had to be put down after developing a severe leg infection.

Guestand two employees, Richard Dalton and Louise Tidman, were given two-year conditional discharges. On 8 February they will appear before a Horseracing Regulatory Authority disciplinary panel. The guideline penalty range can be disqualification or exclusion from racing for six months to 10 years.