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Five Irish fixtures added to ease pressure on embattled point-to-point sector

Paul Murtagh: 'We note the clarification received today from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine that Point-to-Points should not take place until further notice.'
Point-to-point action will not resume in Ireland until April 5 at the earliest

Horse Racing Ireland has announced details of five additional meetings in March to alleviate some of the strain on the point-to-point sector following the news the action will not resume until April 5 at the earliest.

Tuesday's announcement by Taoiseach Micheal Martin that Level 5 restrictions would continue until early April was another major blow to point-to-points but HRI has acted swiftly in trying to ease some of the pressure on the industry. All five meetings will be run under the full rules of racing.

The Fairyhouse and Navan fixtures will be made up of mainly maiden hurdles while, subject to demand, the fixtures at Punchestown, Wexford and Tipperary will be for horses eligible to run in point-to-points. Holders of a point-to-point trainer's permit may enter and run horses at these fixtures.

The Punchestown fixture on March 15 will be an all-bumper card with a variety of distances and age/sex restrictions, with the future programmes being subject to the demands of the horse population.

All bumpers targeted at point-to-point horses will be worth €8,000 with standard prize-money payments to the first six. Entries and declarations will be processed and published through HRI as normal.


Additional March fixtures

Friday, March 5: Fairyhouse
Monday, March 15: Punchestown
Saturday, March 20: Wexford
Monday, March 22: Navan
Wednesday, March 24: Tipperary


Brian Kavanagh, chief executive of HRI, said: “Tuesday’s announcement of a continuation of Level 5 restrictions means that point-to-point racing has not been able to resume yet in 2021, and Horse Racing Ireland is very aware of the pressures being felt by those in the point-to-point community.

"Working closely with the Irish National Hunt Steeplechase Committee, the IHRB and racecourses, HRI has acted to ensure that some opportunities are available in the coming weeks. We very much hope that the national Covid picture improves sufficiently to allow point-to-point racing to resume fully post April 5 because of the vital role it plays in National Hunt racing and its importance to the rural economy."

Paul Murtagh, registrar of the INHS Committee, said: "I would encourage all handlers to respond quickly to the consultative email we are sending out so that we can get the most accurate picture of where demands most lie and create a race programme that best suits handlers' needs."


If you want more on this subject . . .

Point-to-points on hold until April 5 at the earliest in Ireland

Pointing to return in England next month but Irish resumption remains uncertain

Patrick Mullins faces licence battle as he ponders turning pro for Cheltenham


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David JenningsDeputy Ireland editor

Published on 26 February 2021inNews

Last updated 16:56, 26 February 2021

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