TRAINER TONY Martin was yesterday fined €1,000 and ordered to pay costs at a Turf Club referrals committee hearing that disqualified Royal County Star from a Grade Three race at Navan last month after testing positive for a prohibited substance, reports Brian O’Connor.

Royal County Star was first past the post in the An Uaimh Chase on March 28th but the BHP Laboratories in Limerick reported to the Turf Club that a fluid sample taken from the horse tested positive for the banned substance frusemide.

The horse was disqualified from first and Glenfinn Captain was promoted to first. Martin was fined €1,000 and ordered to pay costs.

Champion trainer Willie Mullins also lost a “winner” at the Turf Club yesterday with Florida Pal, first past the post in a maiden hurdle at Clonmel on March 19th, was disqualified after testing positive for caffeine. That is among the list of prohibited substances and Mullins was fined €130 yesterday.