Punchestown

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Thursday's Insights features the 2019 Arqana August Yearling Sale topper. 1.20 Punchestown, Mdn, €15,500, 2yo, 7fT MONDAY (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) is the first foal out of the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac winner and G1 1000 Guineas runner-up Ballydoyle (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who is in turn a full-sister to another...

The Board of Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) has agreed to conclude the 2019/2020 National Hunt season, effective immediately, with the spring festivals at Fairyhouse and Punchestown not to be rescheduled as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic. "We have stressed throughout that Government and HSE guidelines around fighting Covid-19 must come first and racing will only be able to resume when the Government guidelines permit and when there is adequate medical cover in place to ensure that race meetings can be staged safely," said Nicky Hartery, Chairman of Horse Racing...

Storm Ciara has forced the abandonment of all three of Sunday's meetings in Britain and Ireland. Exeter was first to be called off, shortly before a scheduled 8 a.m. inspection, and then Southwell's all-weather meeting and Punchestown's Grand National Trial card followed around an hour later. Gales, forecast to continue throughout the day, put paid to Exeter and also Southwell. At Punchestown, it was initially hoped the high-profile fixture would survive--but after almost 30mm of further rain on Sunday morning, it was cancelled too. A Tweet from Exeter before 8...