British hunter chase season comes to a premature end

Image © Healy Racing

The British Hunter Chase season is set to come to a premature end owing to precautionary measures that are being introduced in response to a rising number of reported equine influenza cases in the non-thoroughbred population.

No Hunter Chase will take place in Britain from Wednesday, May 20th, with the Stratford Hunter Chase card the most high-profile casualty of the move, a fixture that has attracted several Irish runners in recent years.

Wonderwall and I Walked The Line were just two of the leading Irish horses that were being considered for a trip across the Irish Sea for the May 29th fixture, which hosts both the Stratford Foxhunters and the Champion Novice Hunter Chase.

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) confirmed the move on Monday, which will see only horses from licensed training yards being permitted to enter racecourse property on raceday.

As a result of the announcement, the entry deadline for this weekend’s British point-to-point fixtures has been delayed until 8am on Tuesday, May 19th, including Friday’s Welsh International fixture, which is open to Irish runners.

The Welsh International is now in its second year at the new course at Fynnon Druidion.  The committee have been working very hard to ensure the facilities and ground are presented to a high standard, with the latest going report for the course listing the ground as Good.

Additionally, they have been able to increase the prize money to £1,000 per race.