Stayers' Hurdle second Ronald Pump to warm up for festival at Navan

Matthew Smith has pencilled in the Boyne Hurdle at Navan next month as the most likely next destination for last season's Stayers' Hurdle runner-up Ronald Pump, but is not ruling out rocking up at Cheltenham without the benefit of a prep run with his stable star either.

Ronald Pump missed an intended engagement in the Christmas Hurdle due to a stone bruise and the time missed recovering from the setback may have cost him his place in the Galmoy Hurdle at Gowran Park.

Smith said: "The Galmoy will probably come up a bit quick with him because he missed about a fortnight with a stone bruise. It was a real pity missing Leopardstown but it was nothing too serious, thank God."

He added: "The Boyne Hurdle could be the best option, although I wouldn't rule out going to Cheltenham without a run at all, that's if we're allowed to travel.

"It's a pity there is no race for the staying hurdlers at the Dublin Racing Festival and, you'd have to say, there aren't many opportunities for them in the programme as a whole. But we're happy with him and Cheltenham remains the plan."

Smith also provided an upbeat bulletin on One Cool Poet, the horse who won three times at the Galway festival in 2019 along with a premier handicap on Irish Champions Weekend that same season.

The nine-year-old was bidding to make light work of his much lower hurdles rating at Leopardstown over Christmas but, according to Smith, he got stuck in the mud when finishing fifth in the 2m novice handicap.

Smith said: "The ground was just too soft. We were happy with him, but he's a summer horse and we'll plan a spring/summer campaign with him."

Owners offered free day passes by Racing TV to watch their runners

Members of the Racehorse Owners Association (ROA) will be able to watch their runners at Racing TV (RTV) courses for free after a deal was struck between the two parties.

While racing continues to take place behind closed doors, owners are unable to attend fixtures in Britain due to the national lockdowns in England, Scotland and Wales.

However, on days when their horses are running, ROA members will be able to access a day pass from RTV for viewing on television, mobile or web.

To claim the pass, ROA members should contact the organisation on 01183 385680 or complete the appropriate form on the group’s website once their horse has been declared to receive a code for free access.

For more information, visit roa.co.uk/benefits.

Trainer banned for three months for breaching Covid-19 guidelines in Ireland

Trainer Brian McMahon has been fined €1,000 and banned from attending race meetings for three months having been found in breach over Covid-19 guidelines.

McMahon attended Thurles on December 20 despite having been at the Goffs sale at Yorton Farm in the UK three days earlier, thus failing to restrict his movements.

The trainer falsified his health screening questionnaire in order to gain access to Thurles, answering no to the question of whether he had travelled abroad in the previous 14 days.

The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board became aware of the situation only after the Thurles meeting.

Brian McMahon: banned for breaching Covid guidelinesCredit: Caroline Norris

The Referrals Committee convened via Zoom on Wednesday and found McMahon in breach of Rule 272(i), in that he had acted in a manner which was prejudicial to the integrity, proper conduct or good reputation of horse racing.

He was also found guilty under Rule 272(ii) as he had provided misleading information to a racing official by falsifying the health screening questionnaire.

Watson loses Downpatrick winner following positive test

Keith Watson has been fined €1,000 and stripped of the win achieved with British Art at Downpatrick on September 18 after the horse tested positive for dexamethasone.

The trainer was fined under Rule 96 (a) at a referral hearing on Thursday.

At the same hearing, trainer David Christie lost a point-to-point success with Some Man – at Curraghmore on October 31 – after the horse tested positive for dexamethasone.

The fine was waived, however, as the committee felt Christie took all reasonable precautions.

Stud and stable staff asked to take part in injury survey

Stud and stable staff are being asked to take part in an online survey for a research project investigating injuries and risks to staff in the British horseracing industry.

The project is being undertaken by Gloucestershire-based Hartpury University, which is researching how to prevent injuries in the workplace. It also focuses on why members of staff who suffer injuries may not seek support or treatment due to fears of judgement.

The survey was launched on Thursday and can be accessed here

This follows on from the 2019 mental health study by Liverpool John Moores University on behalf of Racing Welfare, with questionnaire results highlighting only 51 per cent of industry staff who suffered injuries then took time off work.

The study will be carried out by Emma Davies, Professor Geoff Lovell and Dr Jane Williams from Hartpury University, Dr Will McConn-Palfreyman from Sport Scotland, and Simone Sear, director of welfare at Racing Welfare.

MansionBet renew partnership with British racecourse groups

MansionBet have announced the renewal of their sponsorship agreement with Arena Racing Company (Arc) and Jockey Club Racecourses (JCR) for 2021.

More than 360 races across 60 fixtures at racecourses including Market Rasen, Huntingdon, Doncaster and Ffos Las will bear the name of the online sports betting operator.

MansionBet will also take on the title sponsorship of Newbury's Spring Cup and become the official betting partner of Goodwood’s Opening Saturday.

Carey Weeks, director of partnerships at JCR, said: "We're delighted to be welcoming back MansionBet as sponsors across a number of fixtures at our racecourses and building on a wide portfolio of races.

"Their successful year-round activation and commitment to race sponsorship will provide invaluable support to horseracing at an important time. We look forward to broadening our association with their team and continuing to find engaging ways to work together."

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