Applicant refused

trainer’s licence

SAMANTHA Finnegan, the holder of a point-to-point handler’s licence, has been refused a trainer’s licence by the IHRB’s Licensing Committee and the Appeals Body. The applicant’s husband Francis Finnegan was given a two-year ban last year by Racing Victoria, having been found guilty of concealing the identity of a horse to make a profit from betting. The IHRB Licensing Committee was not satisified that Mr Finnegan would not be involved in his wife’s training enterprise and refused the application. Mrs Finnegan appealed the decision but the Appeals Body ruled “it is not sufficiently satisfied on the balance of probabilities that the appellant meets the criteria to be granted a trainer’s licence at this juncture.”

Honeysuckle scanned in foal

HONEYSUCKLE has been confirmed in foal to Walk In The Park. The nine-year-old mare retired from racing on a winning note at this year’s Cheltenham Festival, her fourth year in a row to win at the meeting. Owned by Kenny Alexander, the daughter of Sulamani is in the care of Peter Molony at Rathmore Stud in Co Limerick. Honeysuckle is expected to give birth at Alexander’s New Hall Stud in Scotland and her foals are likely to be kept for racing.

Online Breeze Up

entries released

SOME 24 initial entries have been received for the inaugural Tattersalls Online Breeze Up Session. These two-year-olds breezed at Dundalk Stadium yesterday (Friday, May 19th) and footage of each lot will be posted on the Tattersalls Online website by next Friday, May 26th.

Bidding will take place online on June 7th-8th. Consignors include Grangecoor Farm, Greenhills Farm, Grove Stud and Powerstown Stud and there are drafts from Browne Brothers Bloodstock and Friars Lough Stables.

Ramillies to sell online

THE high-class hurdle and chase winner Ramillies will go under ThoroughBid’s online hammer on June 7th. Entries for the June Sale close next Friday, May 26th.

An eight-year-old Shantou gelding, Ramillies won a beginners’ chase at Thurles in December and was first past the post (demoted) in a Grade 3 novice chase at Naas in late January. He is also the winner of a point-to-point, bumper and maiden hurdle.

Free entry at Roscommon

THERE will be free admission to the replacement fixture at Roscommon on Thursday afternoon, June 1st. This meeting replaces the May 8th card which was cancelled due to waterlogging.

Huge entry for Punchestown

A MASSIVE entry of 315 horses has been received for next Tuesday’s additional National Hunt meeting at Punchestown.

This meeting is one of the three floating fixtures that were kept in reserve when the 2023 fixture list was published in order to meet the demands of the horse population at specific times of the year. Just five races were programmed but a maiden hurdle and two low-grade handicap hurdles will be divided to form an eight-race card. Racing starts at 3.15pm.

ITBA general meeting

to be held on May 29th

THE Irish Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association will hold its annual general meeting on Monday week, May 29th at 4pm in ITBA headquarters, Greenhills, Kill, Co Kildare.