THE BAN ON British-trained runners competing in Ireland following the equine influenza outbreak was on Monday lifted by the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board.

British-trained runners will be able to race in Ireland with immediate effect, so long as they comply with the IHRB requirements, which include the Clade 1 vaccine within eight weeks of the intended race.

The feature contests in Ireland this weekend include the Red Mills Chase at Gowran Park on Saturday, in which Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup favourite Presenting Percy could line up, and the Ladbrokes Boyne Hurdle at Navan on Sunday.

There has been no jump racing in Britain since last Wednesday, with the BHA shutting down any action in Britain for six days after three Donald McCain-trained horses tested positive for equine flu.

Three further McCain-trained horses, along with four horses from the yard of Simon Crisford in Newmarket, have also since tested positive, meaning ten positives from a batch of more than 2,000 horses tested.

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