RACING at Loughanmore today (Saturday) and Monday has been cancelled due to ground conditions. The track failed an inspection on Friday afternoon after being found to be “rough and inconsistent”.

East Antrim’s point-to-point secretary Beth Armstrong said: “We were stunned by the news. Never before have we failed an inspection. We have been working on the track all week, watering, rolling and spiking. Some trainers have walked the course and we were sure it would pass. This has left us shell-shocked.”

She said she didn’t know if fixtures could be rescheduled. “It’s getting late in the season, we’ll have to see.”

€5,000 PTP at Dromahane

ENTRIES close next Tuesday for a €5,000 point-to-point race at Dromahane on Sunday week, April 28th. The race was one of the initiatives announced last November by the Stewards of the Irish National Hunt Steeplechase Committee.

To be run by the Doneraile Harriers, the race is open to six-year-olds and upwards who were maidens under all rules at the start of the current season (October 6th).

Philip McLernon, chairman of the point-to-point committee, said: “The idea behind introducing this race was to give handlers and owners a nice incentive to keep older horses in training. Judging by the reaction the race has received so far it has been a welcome addition to the calendar.”