The ITBA Next Generation will award a €5,000 'covering fee' grant to two young breeders each year, in recognition of the achievements of horses they have bred.

Sponsored by Horse Racing Ireland and the Irish EBF, the initiative is named the ITBA Next Generation Breeders’ Grant and it is described as a resource "designed to recognise, reward, and encourage emerging talent within the Irish thoroughbred breeding industry."

The grant will be awarded annually, and with immediate effect in 2026, to two young breeders - one in the flat racing category and one in the National Hunt category. The inaugural recipients are Joann Lyons and Jack Fogarty.

Lyons, who earlier this year also received the ITBA Next Generation Award at the Irish National Breeding and Racing Awards, bred the Group 2 Gimcrack Stakes winner Lifeplan. The colt, a son of Kodi Bear, is entered in both the Irish 2000 Guineas and the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket. Lifeplan is the first foal out of the homebred and raced mare A Taad Moody, a daughter of Awtaad.

Fogarty has bred several high-class performers, including Myretown, winner of the 2025 Ultima Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, and Dalston Lad, who more recently captured the Grade 2 Prestige Novices’ Hurdle at Haydock. Both horses are out of the mare Miss Platinum, a daughter of Oscar.

Fogarty also bred Good And Clever, who finished third in two Grade 1 contests at Aintree and Leopardstown during the 2024/'25 season.

Myretown holds an entry in next Tuesday's Ultima Handicap Chase, which he won last year, while Dalston Lad is entered in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle.

Each recipient will receive a €5,000 Irish EBF Stallion Farms Voucher, redeemable against the next covering of one of the recipient’s mares.

The ITBA Next Generation hopes that the Breeders’ Grant will encourage more young people to breed thoroughbreds and to join the association.

Ross O'Mahony, chairman of the ITBA Next Generation, said: "The grant is yet another mechanism exclusive to ITBA Next Generation Members designed to support young breeders. The Next Generation Committee

congratulates inaugural recipients Joann and Jack and thanks the Irish EBF and Horse Racing Ireland for their support in making the initiative possible.”

John Osborne, Director of Bloodstock and Equine Welfare in HRI, added: “HRI recognises the foundational role of the breeders in making Irish racing successful. It is great to celebrate the success of the next generation through this collaboration.”

Irish EBF manager Nessa Joyce said: "The Irish EBF board is proud to collaborate with the ITBA Next Generation and Horse Racing Ireland on this fantastic initiative. By providing these €5,000 Irish EBF Stallion Farm Vouchers, we are offering tangible support to young breeders, like Joann and Jack, at a pivotal stage in their breeding careers, while launching a clear incentive for the next generation to strive towards. We look forward to seeing the future stars the ITBA Next Generation breeders will produce with the support of this grant."

Eligibility criteria

To be considered for the ITBA Next Generation Breeders Grant, young breeders must meet the following conditions:

• The recipient must have been under 30 years of age at the time the mare was covered or purchased in foal.

• The recipient must be a fully paid member of ITBA or ITBA Next Generation.