NO DECISION ON FESTIVAL DATES

A decision is yet to be taken as to the new dates for next month`s Cheltenham Festival that was postponed from this week after failing to pass guidelines designed to restrict the spread of foot and mouth disease.

A statement issued by the racecourse today stated that discussions have continued to take place this weekend among all interested parties about the re-scheduling, with the aim of confirming as soon as possible the new dates for the three days.

The Cheltenham board met this morning and gave its backing to the process.

The statement said: 'Progress has been made but there are still various issues to be determined - the main one being what will happen to the Punchestown Festival which is scheduled from April 24th to 27th.'

Cheltenham supremo, Edward Gillespie, said: 'We would dearly like to re-schedule the three days in the week Punchestown currently has as this appears to be the preference of the trainers and racegoers.

'However, we are very aware that the decisions facing Punchestown are even more complex than those facing us, bearing in mind that racing in Ireland has yet to resume.

'Let me make this clear though - it is out of the question that Cheltenham will race at the same time as Punchestown. Therefore, we continue to examine all the logistical issues about racing during the week before (April 15th to 21st).

'There is a great deal that has to be considered and we want to make sure that everything is put in place before announcing the new dates.'

The news came as it was announced that the number of confirmed outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease in the UK had risen to 151.