Royal trainer faces D-Day over failed dope test

Nicky Henderson faces the prospect of losing his licence at a British Horseracing Authority disciplinary hearing, after a positive dope test on one of the Queen's horses at Huntingdon in February.

A prohibitive substance, tranexamic acid, was administered to the Queen's six-year-old mare Moonlit Path on the day of the race, which Henderson won with another of his horses, the odds-on favourite Ravello Bay. The drug is often used to stop horses bleeding.

However, because the substance was administered by his vet in the interests of the horse, and his subsequent cooperation with BHA officials, he is likely to instead be fined. Henderson won the last race of Royal Ascot - the Queen Alexandra Stakes - with Caracciola, who became the first 12-year-old to win at the meeting.

Meanwhile, Derby-winning trainer Marcus Tregoning faces a race against time to have Finjaan fit for the July Cup at Newmarket next month.

A short-head third in the Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket last October, the son of Royal Applause has not been seen out since finishing ninth in the 2,000 Guineas on his seasonal reappearance.

Tregoning, who has run just three of a string in the past fortnight, said: "We have basically closed the yard for the last three weeks because the horses have a viral infection. It happens but we haven't had one this bad for 10 years. We are going to have very few runners for the next three weeks. There is no point in rushing them.