Irish point-to-point season to resume at Cork on April 10

The first Irish point-to-point of 2021 will take place at Cork racecourse on Saturday, April 10, after Horse Racing Ireland confirmed on Wednesday that the beleaguered sector had got the go-ahead to resume.

Four months have passed since the most recent card was held at Dromahane on December 20, following the suspension of fixtures at the beginning of January due to escalating number of Covid-19 cases.

Sources indicated on Tuesday that, as part of its plan to ease restrictions in the months ahead, the Irish government had agreed to allow point-to-points for four and five-year-olds resume on conventional racecourses so that they could be overseen by HRI with all the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board protocols in place.

That was confirmed on Wednesday evening. Following the initial fixture at Cork on Saturday week, which will see point-to-point fences installed on the main track, there will be another meeting the following day at Tipperary, and then Fairyhouse will host fixtures on April 17 and 18.

Both of those venues have the option to use their respective inside tracks.

Further fixtures are due to be announced shortly for the weekend of April 24-25.

Richard Pugh, one of the most prominent advocates for a sector that produced 13 winners at the Cheltenham Festival, welcomed the decision.

"It is encouraging to see a phased reintroduction," he said on Wednesday. "We hope it's a stepping stone for a restart for everyone, but we welcome this hugely. We are very appreciative to all involved in getting it back."

Pugh commended the authorities for their part in aiding the quest to get point-to-points back on, noting that it is an added burden at an already demanding time.

He added: "In a way, the simplest thing would have been to let the hunt committees do what they do so well, but this is the way it is and it was only confirmed this morning, so HRI and the IHRB have had to get through a lot to ensure it does happen next weekend.

"They have got the point-to-point bumpers going already and then this has come along, which is great, but it is a further drain on resource for them so we appreciate their efforts."

Minella Indo: the Gold Cup hero was one of 13 Irish point-to-point graduates to score at the Cheltenham FestivalCredit: Edward Whitaker

HRI chief executive Brian Kavanagh echoed Pugh's sentiments in welcoming the resumption, as did Martin O'Donnell, senior steward of the Irish National Hunt Steeplechase Committee (INHSC), which is the IHRB's National Hunt arm.

"We look forward to working with the entire racing industry in Ireland to make these point-to-point fixtures a success in the coming weeks," O'Donnell said.

Earlier on Wednesday, prominent Tipperary TD Jackie Cahill, who had been among the politicians fighting the corner for those at grassroots level, flagged the decision to restart the season.

"I am pleased that my extensive representations to the Taoiseach and minister Charlie McConalogue, and the work of the Oireachtas Agriculture Committee under my chairmanship, has kept this issue on the agenda ahead of this announcement.

"It means that those in the industry will have the opportunity to showcase their horses and make sales."

Read more on this topic:

Leading point-to-point players make plea with Tanaiste for urgent return

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

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

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