Talking Horses: Bravemansgame case puts spotlight back on owner rules

Britain’s best staying chaser can run at Punchestown this week but the saga of John Dance’s racing interests is far from over

Bravemansgame, Britain’s best staying chaser, has been cleared to run at the Punchestown Festival on Wednesday after Bryan Drew, who previously owned the eight-year-old in partnership with John Dance, bought Dance’s 50% share in a deal approved by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). The FCA ordered WealthTek LLP, Dance’s financial services business which also traded as Vertem Asset Management, to cease all activity earlier this month, and has since placed the firm into special administration.

Bravemansgame, the runner-up behind Galopin Des Champs in the Gold Cup at Cheltenham in March, was declared to run in Drew’s name in the Bowl at Aintree’s Grand National meeting on 13 April, but the arrangement was administrative, with no cash changing hands, and the British Horseracing Authority ordered that the gelding should be withdrawn after the FCA obtained a court order to prevent him lining up.