Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Racing is to get it’s own back
OWNERS will be back on Irish racecourses from next Monday.
HRI confirmed yesterday that, under the new Government guidelines for racing and other outdoor events, two owners per horse will be permitted to attend race-meetings, starting with Listowel and Fairyhouse on Monday.
Pre-meeting health screening and temperature checks will apply, as they have done to all attendees since racing resumed on June 8.
HRI also published the Fixture List for 2021, comprising a total of 380 meetings – more than in the original schedule for this year.
Seven of the new fixtures will be turf meetings, including one deemed a “floating fixture”, with three extra dates allocated to Dundalk.
Today’s action is at Downpatrick and Dundalk, where racing has been put back by an hour to enable jockeys (and many others) to attend the funeral of the legendary Pat Smullen, which will take place in his beloved Rhode in County Offaly at 2pm.
The Michael O’callaghantrained Coulthard, third to New Treasure in the Group 3 Round Tower Stakes at the Curragh and beaten a half-length by Lipizzaner at Navan last time, boats a rating of 98 and sets a high standard in the Irish EBF Median Sires Series 2-Y-0 Maiden.
Later, Ballydoyle colt Order Of Australia, last seen when unplaced in the French Derby, will start favourite for the On Instagram @dundalkstadium Race but might not cope with Paddy Twomey’s progressive Roscommon and Killarney winner Bolivar.
As usual, Gordon Elliott holds a strong hand on Downpatrick’s jumps card.
The Sliding Rock, a winner at Wexford before chasing home Getaway Gorgeous in Punchestown, should relish the step-up in trip and will be tough to better in the Randox Health Rated Novice Hurdle.