Trainer Cooper suspended for a year

Trainer and former jockey Elliot Cooper has been disqualified from racing for 12 months following a British Horseracing Authority investigation into corruption.

Cooper, who became Britain’s youngest trainer when taking a licence in 2009 at 25, was found in breach of the old Rule 243 – communicating inside information for reward – and old Rule 220(i) – aiding and abetting the commission of a corrupt and fraudulent practice.

Cumbria-based Cooper was found to have liaised with his cousin, Richard Bowe, by providing information about his horse, Masafi. Bowe was found in breach of the old Rule 201(v) – committing a corrupt or fraudulent practice in relation to racing in Britain by laying Masafi to lose and not be placed on 2 June and 12 June, 2009 with the benefit of inside information relating to the horse’s prospects. As well as failing to co-operate with the BHA, he also breached old Rule 220(ix) in that he caused Cooper to communicate to inside information for reward. Bowe was warned off indefinitely, with no application to have the disqualification lifted for ten years.

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The BHA had studied Bowe’s extensive betting against horses trained by Jonjo O’Neill, for whom Cooper used to work, during an earlier period, but the disciplinary panel were not convinced he was in possession of inside information.

Meanwhile, Tom Dascombe has confirmed Manchester United and England striker Wayne Rooney has purchased two horses to race in 2012, one of which is called Tomway. Dascombe’s yard has been financed by Rooney’s United team-mate Michael Owen, who enjoyed terrific success this year with stable star Brown Panther. After winning at Royal Ascot, the colt went on to be placed in the final Classic of the Flat season, the St Leger at Doncaster.

Rooney will now be hoping his two new acquisitions can go on to similar success.

Dascombe said on his website: “We are obviously delighted to formally announce that Wayne and Coleen Rooney will have two horses in training with us next season. We hope that Wayne’s involvement will bring the sport some publicity outside of the normal racing media and hopefully attract some new fans and followers.

“Wayne and Coleen’s two horses are a two-year-old colt called Tomway and a yearling colt by Bahamian Bounty out of Amazon Beauty, yet to be named. Wayne’s colours are pink and white. We wish Wayne and Coleen all the best with both horses and hope to see them both out early next season.”

Boylesports make Tomway even-money to win a race next year, while he is 10-1 to land a Listed or Group-race prize in 2012. William Hill offer 200-1 for Rooney to follow in the footsteps of former England player Mick Channon and take up a trainers’ licence by the end of 2020.

lThis season’s renewal of the AON Chase at Newbury is to be named after recently-retired National Hunt great Denman. The 2008 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner won at Newbury on five occasions, including a victory in the AON Chase of the same year. The Betfair Denman Chase will be run on 11 February.