Irish Fixtures Centre Stage While UK Horse Racing Shuts Down Horse racing in the Emerald Isle continued in earnest while, across the Irish Sea, the sport was temporarily halted by the BHA following reported cases of equine influenza. After horses from the Donald McCain stable, including one that raced at Ayr before the shutdown, were found to have the contagious virus, UK horse racing authorities cancelled 23 meetings and suspended all sporting activities for six days. Over 150 stables were forced into lockdown and British runners were temporarily banned from running in Irish races. Among the casualties of the UK calendar was the Super Saturday meeting at Newbury, where the Denman Chase, Game Spirit Chase and valuable Betfair Hurdle are all supposed to be run. Further cases of equine flu were also found at the Newmarket yard of Simon Crisford but the sport has since resumed in Britain with strict controls in place and runners restricted to those vaccinated in the last six months. Punters still had Irish horse racing to follow, however, and weekend jumps cards at Naas and Punchestown went ahead as normal. The Opera Hat Mares Chase was the feature at the former meet and Willie Mullins again landed the spoils through Pravalunga. That same race produced the winner of the Mares' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival last year as Benie Des Dieux upset the mighty Apple's Jade. Also among the Naas winners was yet another Joseph O'Brien-trained juvenile, Band Of Outlaws, in an age-restricted rated novice hurdle. While the young handler has a glut of top four-year-olds, this latest winner shot to the head of the Fred Winter betting. Band Of Outlaws also joins stable companions Sir Erec and Fakir D'Oudairies, who was bought by leading Irish owner JP McManus after winning a Grade 2 on Festival Trials Day, as prominent in the Triumph Hurdle market. Banks specialist Josies Orders advertised his Cross Country claims with victory at Punchestown on Sunday. Alongside Enda Bolger-trained stablemate Auvergnat and Grand National hero Tiger Roll, he is once again a leading contender for that discipline at the Cheltenham Festival. Backers of Racing Post Arkle fancy Cilaos Emery were hoping Impact Factor, who chased him home at Gowran Park, could advertise the form. He didn't, however, and could only finish second to Riders Onthe Storm in a rated novice chase at Punchestown. Away from the Cheltenham Festival picture, horses put forward their claims for Grand Nationals on both sides of the Irish Sea in one of the official trials. Gigginstown House Stud has the first three home in the Irish Grand National trial won by Dounikos under Davy Russell for Gordon Elliott. The County Meath handler also saddled the third horse home, General Principle, who won the Irish Grand National itself last season. These two Elliott runners were split by Wishmoor, another O'Brien inmate who raced prominently throughout and got up after being headed to claim second close home. While Dounikos will now have his Irish Grand National entry fee covered as part of a new initiative from race sponsors Boylesports, a crack at the Aintree equivalent is definitely on the cards for General Principle. Gigginstown have had two of the last three English Grand National winners in Tiger Roll and Rule The World.
