Leader racing news and tips goes ahead on Saturday at Naas, Ireland, in wake of equine flu outbreak in Britain
By Andrew Atkinson
The Leader newspaper will be reporting from Naas in Ireland on Saturday following racing in Britain being suspended after an equine flu outbreak.
Trainer Donald McCain’s stable has been named as the source of the outbreak that lead racing being abandoned in Britain on Thursday.
A decision will be made on Monday February 11 as to whether the ban will remain in force.
With racing at Newbury, Lingfield, Uttoxeter, Warwick and Wolverhampton being abandoned on Saturday, The Leader will concentrate on turf action in Naas, Ireland, where seven races will take place.
British top trainers Paul Nicholls and Nick Henderson are amongst 100 race yards who cannot have runners until stables are confirmed as free of infection.
British horses have been barred from being entered in races in Ireland – a prudent step in the short term.
Equine influenza – a respiratory infection – is highly contagious and can be transmitted through the air by humans.
The outbreak has caused concern with the Cheltenham Festival set to get underway in March.
