Italy loses its final Group 1 following downgrading of Premio Lydia Tesio

Italy's ailing thoroughbred industry has been dealt two further blows with news that the Premio Lydia Tesio, in which Luca Cumani gained his final win as a trainer with God Given, has been downgraded to Group 2 for 2019, and that for the time being it will have the status only of an associate member of the European Pattern.

Further significant changes to the Pattern following a meeting held at the offices of the BHA on January 24 include the upgrading of Longchamp's Prix Royallieu on the Saturday of Arc weekend to Group 1 in order to provide an end-of-season opportunity at that level for fillies at longer distances, and the upgrading of three Group 3 races to Group 2, including the City of York Stakes which was last year won by subsequent Breeders' Cup winner Expert Eye.

Brian Kavanagh, chairman of the EPC, said: "The committee continues to observe the highest standards of quality control and has downgraded races where necessary and put racing authorities on notice of races at risk of downgrade in 2020. Regrettably, the downgrades included Italy's final remaining Group 1, the Lydia Tesio.

"The committee welcomed the attendance of representatives of the Italian Ministry for Agriculture and pending completion of a series of reforms to address difficulties, Italy will have the status of an associate member of the European Pattern. The committee genuinely wishes to restore Italy to full membership as soon as possible and will work with the Italian authorities to further this objective."

Among a raft of further changes, Newmarket's autumn programme will benefit from the upgrading of both the Pride Stakes and the Zetland Stakes from Listed to Group 3, while in a move intended to strengthen the programme for juvenile fillies in Ireland in the first half of the season the Balanchine Stakes at the Curragh takes Group 2 status and the Juvenile Fillies' at Naas goes from Listed to Group 3.

Another notable change is the reduction in distance from 1m to 7f of the Group 1 Prix Jean Prat, traditionally run at Chantilly early in July and won by Thunder Snow in 2017. The stated aim of this change is to fill an obvious gap in the programme and to make the race a target in its own right for three-year-olds, providing also a clear path towards either the Maurice de Gheest and/or the Prix Jacques le Marois.

Under the EPC's quality control rules, 24 races, including the Group 1 Deutsches Derby and Preis Von Europa, have been put on notice that they are at risk of being downgraded.

For the freshest betting advice, based on latest going and market conditions, don't miss the Live Tipster every afternoon. Just click Raceday Live at racingpost.com or the mobile app