A SIGNIFICANT blow was dealt to point-to-pointing on Wednesday afternoon when the Irish National Hunt Steeplechase Committee issued a statement confirming that the point-to-point season would be suspended with immediate effect ahead of this weekend’s scheduled first meetings of the year at Tinahely, Ballycrystal and Carrigarostig.

The decision followed receipt of clarification from the Department of Agriculture that point-to-point racing would not be included in the category of professional and elite sports permitted to continue behind closed doors, meaning no point-to-point fixtures could take place until further notice.