The Government's foot-and-mouth restrictions on horses are expected to be lifted within the next day or two, leaving the way clear for British-trained horses to run at the Curragh's Guineas meeting in just over a fortnight.
The Turf Club chief executive, Brian Kavanagh, said yesterday he is "hopeful" the Department of Agriculture will approve disease control procedures that were presented to Professor Michael Monaghan's special advisory group by the Turf Club last Thursday.
If the Government do give the green light, Irish-trained horses currently confined to Britain will be allowed back and overseas-trained horses will be able to travel to Ireland to race. The way will also be open for horses to travel back and forth across the Border in time for the Downpatrick meeting on May 18th-19th to go ahead.
"We are hopeful the Department will agree to the procedures and certainly it should come in time for the Guineas," Kavanagh said.
That will come as welcome news for the Curragh, especially in connection with the Group One Tattersalls Gold Cup, which would have been weakened significantly if confined to an all-Irish event. The Breeders' Cup hero, Kalanisi, had been considered a possible for the race and the chances of the Michael Stoute-trained horse running in the race must now be better.
