Mullins planning full festival team in hope worst of pandemic will be over

The meeting's leading trainer saddled 56 runners over the four days last year

Willie Mullins: has enjoyed success at Cheltenham since his days as an amateur

Willie Mullins: hoping to be represented with a normal level of runners at the 2021 Cheltenham FestivalCredit: Patrick McCann

Willie Mullins is optimistic that the public health situation will have improved markedly in Britain and Ireland by March and is adopting a best-case scenario approach to his Cheltenham Festival plans.

While Covid-19 restrictions in Ireland were tightened further on Wednesday afternoon, Horse Racing Ireland chief executive Brian Kavanagh welcomed confirmation that the sport can continue behind closed doors.

The travel ban between Britain and Ireland has been extended until midnight on Friday and anyone arriving into the country from Britain or South Africa after that point will be required to provide a negative PCR test within the 72 hours before travelling and will have to quarantine for 14 days on arrival.

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Brian SheerinReporter

Mark BoylanReporter

Published on 6 January 2021inNews

Last updated 19:26, 6 January 2021

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