You both have valid points TD and Elise but as you say Elise a simple statement of denial usually follows regardless of any inquiry be it civil or criminal as it does not prejudice any investigation.I agree with most that it looks a fake but you have to ask whether the Mail would print such if it was obviously fake and defamatory?

Surely they have the technology to decipher a faked photo?

Whippin Piccadilly is some dikkhead, not having an iota what he’s talking about , and labelling people as thick as 2 short planks .  Then he naps something that he has no idea about . Go and lie down ya scrote

BREAKING NEWS...

Apparently Gerald Ratner has advised Gordon Elliott not to say anymore on this photo at the momement...

There could be loads of reasons why he won't or can't say anything though. Police investigations etc it might be true, impossible for me up he will need time to make a statement what it was.
I'm pretty sure every one involved knows what its doing to racings image and it will ge dealt with sooner or later
I have saw loads of pictures that look real and weren't and have saw loads of photos that didn't look real and were, so I will wait and see what the truth is.

a photo of him at the salad bar would be a far bigger scandal,

Agreed Elise,

Whether Elliott would realise the massive damage to racing's image for years to come or not the IHRB would.

If Elliott had denied the pic then they would have added it to their statement to squash a lot of the damage and nip it in the bud.

Something along the lines of

We are aware of the photo circulating of a licenced trainer and are currently in contact and investigating the matter .
We wish to make it clear that the individual concerned  has wholeheartedly refuted the authenticity of the images and we will make a further statement once the investigation is complete.

That would have killed a lot of the speculation and frenzy and more importantly reputational damage to racing.

i hope it's fake, i would rather they say so and condemn it

got a horse in didn't they?

I agree elise with that but in the world we live in now, a simple action to clear it up, never seems to be the first solution.

WTf have the Festival or GN got to do with it 1st time?

You could fit a camel saddle on Feltz from memory elise?

its is ireland so elliotts barn could be waiting for betfair to open a book before they say one way or another
people still need to eat

Imagine printing pics and stories that originated and circulated on Tw@tter and then calling yourself a "journalist" FFS!

probably never be proven either way

was this in the print edition or just online?

thats the point fashion,even if true they muddy the waters,its simple as his best bud chappers said you come out say the photo is fake and let others do what they have to do regards investigations

There's more chance of Shamima Begum winning Britain's Got Talent than there is of a serious debate on here without some resorting to insults. No wonder the forum is on it's last legs!

look at the mess prince andrew has got in to through suggesting a photo may be fake or not

With an open mind I studied this picture as a long standing user of photoshop. Look carefully at the area just below his right elbow. They is something not right, it seems recoloured but not perfectly. Secondly I don't like how straight his right knee is or its right angled end , as if there was something on the insertion which didn't fit right.
On a non photoshop issue , the horse seems to have racing plates on but is not a fit horse, or was not a fit horse when it died. It is not well fed, you would do well to find such a specimen in a top racing yard.
On balance , I would say fake. Just my opinion.

so you think the horse has been photo scooped as well,if its a fake and animal rights involved photo scooping a horse would put their cause back 40 years