VIRUS SEES ADDITIONAL HUNT CARDS

HORSE RACING IRELAND is scheduling five additional National Hunt meetings next month in light of the continuing Level 5 restrictions.

With Point-to-point racing not resuming until after April 5 at the earliest there is an unusally high demand for opportunities to run in maiden hurdles and HRI has responded quickly.

All five meetings will be run under the full Rules of Racing with standard broadcast coverage and integrity provision, including the comprehensive and strict HRI Racecourse Covid Protocols which continue to serve the industry so well in ensuring a safe environment for participants.

The five dates are as follows: Friday, March 5 – Fairyhouse (inside track); Monday, March 15 – Punchestown (inside track), Saturday, March 20 – Wexford; Monday, March 22 – Navan; Wednesday, March 24 – Tipperary.

The Fairyhouse and Navan fixtures will comprise largely of maiden hurdles while subject to demand the fixtures at Punchestown, Wexford and Tipperary will be for horses eligible to run in Point-to-points and horses handled by holders of a Point to Point Handlers Permit.

The race programme for the Fairyhouse card (March 5) will be published today, with four races initially programmed to allow for multiple divisions within an eight-race card.

The IHRB will be consulting with Point-to-point handlers today to identify the most suitable races for the first meeting targeted at Point-to-point horses at Punchestown on Monday, March 15, with the publication of a programme of races to quickly follow to assist with handlers’ preparations.

It is envisaged this first Punchestown fixture will comprise an all-bumper card with a variety of distances and age/sex restrictions, with the future programmes being subject to the demands of the horse population. All bumpers targeted at Point-topoint horses will be worth €8,000 each with standard prize money payments to the first six, and entries and declarations will be processed and published through Horse Racing Ireland as normal.

Brian Kavanagh, Chief Executive of Horse Racing Ireland (above), said: “Tuesday’s announcement of a continuation of Level 5 restrictions means that Point-to-point racing has not been able to resume yet in 2021, and Horse Racing Ireland is very aware of the pressures being felt by those in the Point-to-point community.

“Working closely with the Irish National Hunt Steeplechase Committee, the IHRB and racecourses, HRI has acted to ensure that some opportunities are available in the coming weeks. We very much hope that the national Covid picture improves sufficiently to allow Point-to-point racing to resume fully post April 5 because of the vital role it plays in National Hunt racing and its importance to the rural economy.”