Henderson fined and banned for three months

The leading National Hunt trainer was last Monday found guilty of using a prohibited substance to improve the performance of The Queen's mare at Huntingdon in February.

Henderson attended a personal hearing on Thursday evening, when pleas of mitigation were entered to a British Horseracing Authority panel, and learned of his punishment on Friday morning.

The 58-year-old handler faced a possible disqualification from the training ranks, but will instead be unable to run any of his horses from July 11 to October 10.

He has also been hit with a record fine imposed on any British trainer.

Moonlit Path finished sixth in the TurfTV Mares' Novices' Hurdle on February 19, after which she tested positive for tranexamic acid, an anti-bleeding drug, which contravened BHA Rule 200.

The race was won by stablemate Ravello Bay.

Henderson had admitted to three of the four charges he faced, but denied any wrongdoing in relation to Rule 200, which governs administering or attempting to administer a prohibited substance.

Henderson has always maintained the medication was used "in the interests of the horse's welfare" - and not to improve performance.

The Lambourn trainer has the right to appeal.