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Four-year-old auction maidens among spring changes announced

The Stewards of the INHS Committee have announced key initiatives for the 2019 Spring Point to Point Season. A series of auction races for four-year-old maidens will be introduced in the regions specifically designed for horses that were bought or sold at public auction in 2018 for €25,000 or less.
The venues selected to stage the races are North Down 9th March, Brosna 23rd March, Dromahane 14th April and Bree 28th April. To qualify to run, horses must have been bought or sold in 2018 under the hammer at the Goffs Land Rover Sale, Goffs U.K. Spring Store Sale, Tattersalls Ireland May Store Sale, Tattersalls Ireland Derby Sale and Tattersalls Ireland August Sale.
Another new initiative sees the introduction of a valuable race (€5,000) at the Doneraile (H) Point to Point fixture at Dromahane on 28th April.
The race is confined to six-year-old and upwards horses that have not won a race under the rules of racing or steeplechase rules at any time and who prior to the start of the current Point to Point season (6th October 2018) have not won a Point to Point steeplechase. The race is primarily targeting the traditional older Point to Point horse.
A number of new amendments to the Hunters Steeplechase licence requirements on the racecourse are being introduced to encourage more licensees and more participation of runners in this category. The main changes are:-
• the restriction to family owned horses and a minimum of 2 horses to be removed.
• Licence holders also to be permitted to run horses in all races that require Hunter Certificates e.g. Point to Point Bumpers and Bank Races.
The remainder of the criteria will still apply - successful completion of a practical assessment at RACE, stable inspection and interview by the Licensing Committee.
Commenting on the changes, Philp McLernon, Chairman of the Point to Point Committee said:
“The auction race initiative will cater for the least expensive horses purchased at the various recognised sales in 2018 which is most welcome and hopefully will be fully supported by all handlers. It has the backing of the Point to Point Handlers Association.
"The introduction of a valuable race for the older pure Point to Pointer type will encourage handlers to keep the older horses in training and we will endeavour to introduce more of these races throughout the regions in future.
"The rule amendment to the Hunters Steeplechase licence requirement should encourage more participation of runners in Hunters Steeplechases on the racecourse which is warmly welcomed.”
Details of conditions will be published in the 2019 Spring Provisional Summary of races on the website at www.ihrb.ie
Nine UK point-to-points took place last weekend with 18 former
Irish pointers winning for their new connections.
The leading Cheltenham hope won his four-year-old maiden for
Colin McKeever & Wilson Dennison at Tyrella.
There will be schooling available at Borris House on Monday 4th
March.
The Limerick Harriers will unveil their new point-to-point track
at Ballycahane, Crecora on Sunday 3rd March.
Up and coming handler Brian McMahon took the mares' maiden at
Nenagh last Sunday and talks about his career to date here.
Online Entries for the Tattersalls Ascot March Sale close on
Monday 25th March.
The much-loved member of the Healy Racing team was a very popular
figure on the point-to-point scene.
The Papal Bull mare Loughrask Breeze took the five-year-old and
upward mares maiden at Nenagh on Sunday.
Check out the Point-to-Point Weekly, the free point-to-point pull
out in today's Racing Post.
ITM will continue to present the leading mares' point-to-point
handler with a voucher at the Irish Point-To-Point Awards.
The first Tattersalls Cheltenham Sale of 2019 takes place on
Thursday 21 February at 1.30pm.
British-trained horses will be able to run in next months
Lingstown Banks race which is worth over E3,000.
Liz Lalor who only gave birth a little over five and half weeks
ago made an immediate return to race-riding.
'Testing of riders for banned substances is being introduced at
point to points in the next few weeks'
Ucello Conti followed up on his recent Thurles
win with a fine victory in the Boardsmill Stud Hunters
Chase.
The Pat Doyle-trained Moig South winner is one of the leading
Albert Bartlett Hurdle contenders.
We catch up with the organisers of the three fixtures that take
place this weekend.
Change of venue for Premier (H) on Sun 10th March. Their fixture
which was originally to be held at Horse & Jockey will now
take place at Turtulla.
The IHRB have released a list of Frequently Asked Questions in
order to clarify some points in relation to Equine Influenza.
Eddie Power has enjoyed a dream start to his training career and
the former jockey explains how it all came about here.
The first Tattersalls Cheltenham Sale of 2019 takes place on
Thursday 21 February at 1.30pm in the Tattersalls Sales Arena.
The IHRB have clarified the eight-week rule pertaining to
vaccinations prior to a horse running in Ireland.
21-year-old Evan Dwan rode his second winner of the season at
Ballinaboola last Sunday and the Tipperary native talks us
through his career to date here.
A look ahead to the Gold Cup at next month's Cheltenham Festival.
Tattersalls Ascot are now taking entries for their March Sale, to
enter online click here...
Following the publication of the Grand National entries, hopes
will be high for an Irish success once again.
Twelve months on from his Ballinaboola maiden success, Envoi
Allen picked-up his fourth success on the bounce.
The Moig South four-year-old winner picked up his first Grade 1
prize less than a year after his point success.
RACE are offering two Schooling courses this season, Schooling
Progression and Schooling Preparation.
The Killeady Harriers are moving to Dromahane for their April
fixture.
Michael Sweeney recorded his seventh success of the season in
ultra-dramatic fashion at Boulta on Sunday.
The OLBG Mares Grade 1 Hurdle has attracted a strong entry of 30
mares which includes six Irish Point to Pointers.
The entries for the Grade 1 Unibet Champion Hurdle at the
Cheltenham Festival have increased this year with a total of 27
entered.
A total of 79 point-to-point fixtures will take place in the
spring campaign right through to the June Bank Holiday.
Ronan McNally enjoyed a day to remember at Hexham on Monday when
his stable veteran See Double You won his tenth races at the ripe
old age of 15.