Christy Roche has become the second Irish trainer this year to be handed a hefty bill over unpaid taxes.
The County Kildare-based handler has been hit with a bill for 165,468 euro ($A216,482) after an investigation by the Revenue Commissioners.
In September it was confirmed champion Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien had been given a bill for more than half a million euro ($A654,151) for unpaid tax.
Roche has been fined over under-declaration of income tax and as part of the Revenue Offshore Assets investigations.
The 62-year-old gained fame as a jockey with a vintage performance on Secreto to deny El Gran Senor in the Epsom Derby in 1984.
He also won the Irish Derby three times.
He retired from the saddle in August 1998, having taken out a licence to train a couple of years earlier.
Roche has enjoyed success over jumps with horses such as Like-A-Butterfly, winner of the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in 2002.
The talented mare, owned by Roche’s chief patron JP McManus, went on to win the Europe Champion Hurdle in 2003 and the Powers Gold Cup two years later.
Other Grade One winners to grace his stable include Le Coudray and Youlneverwalkalone.
His latest big-race victory was nailed by Groody Hill in the Troytown Handicap Chase at Navan last month.
Roche’s name was on the Revenue’s Defaulters’ List after being ordered to pay 70,494 euro ($A92,227) in tax and 94,974 euro ($A124,255) in interest and penalties.
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