FURIOUS racehorse trainer Charles Byrnes has demanded CCTV footage be released after controversy erupted over the mysterious whereabouts of his horse.
Byrnes has found himself at the centre of in Ireland Horseracing Regulatory Board investigation over horse Karloss.
The six-year-old was due to run at Downpatrick on Monday but was declared a non-runner after banging his head in transit to the track.
In a statement given to stewards on the day, Byrnes said the horse's owners were travelling behind when the horse slipped and they took him home.
The stewards' report said the gelding 'did not arrive at the races with his other runners'.
Byrnes recorded a treble on the day and used to own Anyway, the horse who is now at the centre of a separate probe after winning at evens having been backed in from 28-1.
Karloss was due to run in the race Anyway won.
Byrnes insists Karloss did arrive at the track and it was then he was transferred to the owners and taken back to his yard.
The renowned trainer told the Racing Post: "We were lucky we didn’t have a crash on the way up to Downpatrick.
"As a result, Karloss got a bad fright and banged his head. He sweated up very badly afterwards and I pulled in as soon as I could.
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"He was changed over in Downpatrick. I made the decision that the horse wasn’t in a fit state to run and I felt I was well qualified to make that decision.
"We took the trailer off the back of my box and put it on to the owner's jeep and he took him home, simple as that."
A post from Byrnes' Twitter account claimed people 'had let their imaginations run wild' over the conflicting series of events.
The post concluded with the hashtag: "#youcantteachstupid."
Byrnes wants CCTV footage from Downpatrick released so it's clear Karloss arrived at the track before leaving again.
He labelled the whole situation an 'absolute disgrace' and added: "I'm furious over it."
Byrnes also insisted he had nothing to do with the huge gamble on Anyway.
He confirmed he had bought the horse in June 2021 but sold him last year.
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He said: "I had nothing to do with it but I would like to congratulate the new owners and wish them the very best of luck."
Trainer Ken Budds said he had backed his horse and added: "I have to get money somewhere."
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