Irish unveil full jumps calendar for summer

Luke Dempsey won last year’s Galway Plate

HORSE Racing Ireland (HRI) has published its full programme of National Hunt races for the months of June and July, as well as races scheduled for the August Bank Holiday weekend.

Racing is due to resume in Ireland on June 8 behind closed doors, but jumps fixtures are not planned until June 22 at Limerick.

Ireland traditionally has mixed cards at some courses, but HRI will only allow single-code meetings to limit the number of people working at a racecourse.

It has forced significant changes to the Galway Festival programme, although the Galway Plate and Galway Hurdle will be run on the Wednesday and Thursday as usual, with a Listed novice hurdle and a Grade Three novice chase featuring on the respective cards.

There are 24 jumps meetings at 12 racecourses.

Shane Doyle, HRI’s race-planning manager, said: “Most cards have been programmed with the possibility of a divide included to respond as effectively as possible to the demands of the horse population and give additional opportunities in the areas of highest demand.

“The quality of horses running through the summer programme continues to rise, with the likes of Ballyoisin, Darver Star, Peregrine Run and Ravenhill appearing regularly last year.”

HRI is planning to publish the full Flat programme up to the conclusion of the Galway Festival next week. 12.25 GINGA

1.00 LE LISTRAC

1.35 LORD SPIRIT

2.15 BELLE CAPITAINE 2.50 BEAU VAL

3.25 CABO REAL

4.00 PRINCE DE BELLOUET 4.35 FAIR PLAY SIVOLA 5.10 FLAMANT STAR 5.45 HIGH KING