Overview
- Hillsin finished third at Worcester on July 5, 2023, and the panel ruled Dylan Kitts and John Higgins breached Rule (J)25.2 by agreeing to prevent the horse achieving its best placing.
- Dylan Kitts admitted giving a stopping ride and cited a perceived threat from Higgins, though the panel said his life or safety was not shown to be at risk.
- Trainer Chris Honour was found not to be part of the conspiracy but was judged to have misled stewards in the post‑race inquiry.
- The hearing examined call logs and payments routed from John Higgins via his son‑in‑law Ashley Barnes to Kitts in the months before the race; Barnes and Higgins are on BHA exclusion orders for non‑cooperation.
- The BHA called the conduct fundamentally incompatible with racing’s values and said full written reasons and sanctions will follow at the scheduled penalties hearing.