SLOWDOWN IN RATE OFFERS HOPE

The apparent decrease in the rate of new foot-and-mouth outbreaks in the UK is presenting a new ray of hope to those hoping Irish horses could, after all, be allowed run at the Cheltenham Festival.

And while the Government has extended its ban on livestock movement to include horses, special travel permits can be issued if necessary.

A Department of Agriculture spokesman said last night: 'The ban already exists for certain species and we feel it should be extended to horses. It will begin on Thursday morning.'

However, the impact on racehorse trainers was being downplayed last night by the Trainers` Association chairman, Willie Mullins, who said: 'From what we know, it`s a ban on the unnecessary movement of horses rather than a ban on the movement of horses.'

Just two new cases of the virus were confirmed in Britain yesterday and that slowdown is encouraging some racing professionals into thinking the Department of Agriculture might relax its restrictions and allow Irish-trained horses such as Istabraq race next week.

Racing is scheduled to return in Britain today at Lingfield and there is increasing confidence in Britain that the Cheltenham Festival will get the green light to start on Tuesday.

The Irish Trainers` Association last week announced they would support the Minister for Agriculture`s request that horses shouldn`t travel, but with a decrease in the rate of new outbreaks, hopes are growing a compromise might be reached.

One leading trainer said last night: 'The question can be asked, if this disease has peaked, has the atmosphere in which we made our decision changed?'

A Cheltenham declaration stage is set for tomorrow when Irish-trained entries would have to be either confirmed or taken out and that deadline could now take on even extra significance.

The Department of Agriculture request for punters and race fans not to travel to the festival race meeting is currently receiving less than full support, with one of the country`smain travel operators reporting just a 10 per cent cancellation rate.

The Carlow-based Tully Travel company had been planning to handle the arrangements of 1,500 Cheltenham fans and have seen a minimal drop off in their festival trade.

'We`ve had 85 packages cancelled and one corporate group, so as of today our cancellations are at about the rate of 10 per cent,' spokesman Joe Tully said yesterday.

'I would have expected more with the Government coming out strong about not going, but the reality is that people are viewing it differently. People are prepared to take precautions, but they`re also looking at 20,000 people travelling to Cheltenham from all over Britain, from Edinburgh to Bristol, and saying to themselves why can`t we do the same,' he added.

A Department of Agriculture spokesman said yesterday that the current Government advice on travel still applies but admitted travel is up to each individual.

'Last weekend we advised not to travel to Wales for the rugby but people decided to go. We`re asking people to minimise trips to the UK and travel only when necessary but it is still left to the individual,' he said.

Ruby Walsh was yesterday booked to ride the current Tote Gold Cup favourite, See More Business.

Mick Fitzgerald won the 1999 Gold Cup on See More Business but has been claimed to ride Marlborough, and See More Business`s trainer, Paul Nicholls, said: 'Ruby has ridden for us before and I am delighted he has been booked. He will come down and ride the horse over the coming weekend and possibly stay until the meeting.'

As well as Walsh, three other Irish-based jockeys plan to attend the Cheltenham Festival. Barry Geraghty, Fran Berry and David Casey, along with Walsh, confirmed they do not intend to immediately return to Ireland afterwards.

French trainers were yesterday given a glimmer of hope regarding sending horses to the Cheltenham Festival when their authorities gave the go ahead for racing to resume in their country.