Cheltenham and Rooneys set to meet to discuss owners' boycott of the course

Cheltenham representatives are set to meet leading owners Paul and Clare Rooney to discuss the couples' shock decision not to have any runners at the course, a situation which will continue with their horses being absent from Festival Trials day this Saturday.

The Rooneys, who are fourth in the jumps owners' championship, have not had a runner at the home of jump racing since the first day of the November meeting, having instructed their numerous trainers not to enter their horses to run at the course until further notice due to concerns the track poses a higher risk of injury to their runners.

Prior to their decision becoming public at the end of last year, the Rooneys had not spoken with Cheltenham about the matter, but both sides are keen for a discussion to ascertain if an agreement can be reached to end the impasse.

Speaking on Sunday, Paul Rooney said: "They wrote us a letter a couple of weeks ago requesting a meeting to discuss the situation. We have not responded yet but we will set up a meeting with Cheltenham in the very near future and take it from there."

Asked if any of his horses would be entered to run at Cheltenham on Saturday, he added: "No, definitely not."

Rooney-owned horses have not featured in the early-closing entries for any of the Cheltenham Festival races so far, but officials at the course are hoping to have positive interactions with the pair soon.

If The Caps Fits, who was third behind Verdana Blue and Buveur D'Air in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton last month, with Global Citizen – an impressive winner at Haydock on Saturday – fourth, was quoted for the Unibet Champion Hurdle and Sun Bets Stayers' Hurdle but was not entered for either race last week.

Entries for the graded novice chases at the Festival – the Racing Post Arkle, RSA Chase, JLT Chase and National Hunt Chase – close this Tuesday.

Ian Renton: looking to work with leading owners to find a solutionCredit: Racingfotos.com

Cheltenham racecourse boss Ian Renton said on Sunday: "We have written to the Rooneys and we're waiting to hear back from them about setting something up.

"Whatever Paul and Clare prefer and whoever they want to see we'll work with them to try to find a suitable time to meet.

"I think all these things are better done face to face rather than through correspondence and we’ll get something in the diary and discuss what needs to be discussed with them."

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