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Horse Racing Ireland chief executive Brian Kavanagh hopes the Irish Grand National can be rearranged for later in the year.
The Irish Grand National is always held on Easter Monday but this year it will not take place because of the global coronavirus pandemic.
Officials are looking at options to stage the Fairyhouse showpiece at a different date, possibly as part of a revamped three-day ‘Winter Festival‘ at the course in late November.
Kavanagh was quoted in the Irish Times saying: “There are a few races in the programme for horses in the three mile category. This is three miles and five (furlongs.) It is a unique race.
“We will try to run it. It is an important race and there’s a fair amount of prize money to spread out into the system.
In terms of when it could be rescheduled to, Kavanagh revealed there were some different options to consider.
He added: “There are a few options. One is on the Saturday of the Winter Festival where there is already a race with very similar conditions, the Porterstown Chase. “That’s one option and the other option is to look at a suitable date sometime in October-November.”
Kavanagh knows staging the race at a different time of the year will not go down well with everyone but he’s keen to ensure Ireland’s richest jumps race will go ahead at some point.
He said: “We’re in uncharted territory in all this. Certainly the board at Fairyhouse are anxious we will try and have a Grand National this year.
“It’s a historic race and you would like to think at that time of year there will be some normality returning and we will be able to look forward to a decent day’s racing with decent crowds.”
