Taskforce works to restore horse free movement as Brexit travel issues mount

If the recent experience of the Francis Graffard-trained Silver Quartz is an early indicator, those aiming to travel horses in and out of the United Kingdom could face a summer of discontent as Brexit-related checks at ports of entry threaten to cause major holdups.

Silver Quartz experienced customs delays totalling more than five hours on what should have been a relatively short journey from Chantilly to Lingfield last Thursday, a far from ideal experience which has left Graffard and owner-breeders Al Asayl questioning the wisdom of sending Group 1 winner The Revenant to Newbury for the Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes in May.

Elsewhere, transporter Patrick Keane has reported having horses held for up to three hours at the Port of Dublin on returning from Britain, while Cheltenham-based trainer Richard Hobson has complained that the cost of sending his horses to race in France has doubled since January 1.