ITV cameras a ray of light as Limerick and Tramore face €500,000 hit

Tramore and Limerick are set to take a combined hit of €500,000 by missing spectators at their big festive fixtures, but the prospect of having the ITV cameras on course meant bosses at both tracks were concentrating on the positives on Thursday.

Having an empty grandstand when dual Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Al Boum Photo is in action in the Savills New Year's Day Chase on January 1 will cost Tramore around €50,000, while Limerick will miss out on more than €450,000 this Christmas.

However, the prospect of ITV showing the racing on terrestrial television represents a ray of light for what has been a dark period for the tracks in Ireland.