FOLLOWING a successful and well-attended webinar staged earlier this year, the ITBA is hosting an in-person seminar on Monday, April 4th in Hotel Minella, Clonmel, to discuss all matters National Hunt-related.

A stellar panel has been secured for what promises to be an afternoon of discussion and lively debate.

The seminar will concentrate on the challenges and opportunities facing the National Hunt industry. David Jennings of Racing Post will MC the event and the panel will discuss a number of key talking points.

NH Fillies Bonus Scheme

Through the continued support of Horse Racing Ireland and Weatherbys, the National Hunt Fillies Bonus Scheme has grown from strength to strength and changed the face of the mares’ race programme.

Last year was its most successful to date with €495,000 in winning bonuses paid out and a 73% win rate in eligible races.

The number of fillies entered into the scheme for 2022 has also grown, ensuring the future of the initiative.

We will ask what more can and should be done to ensure the viability of fillies in training.

IRE Incentive

The IRE Incentive scheme awards a bonus of €10,000 to owners of Irish-bred winners of selected races across the Irish and British flat and National Hunt programmes, to be spent on Irish-breds at Irish sales.

In its first year the IRE Incentive scheme awarded over €1 million to over 90 individual owners. This contributed to more than €4 million in sales of Irish-breds.

It was announced this week that the scheme is to be expanded and will include National Hunt auction races.

Impact of French-bred horses

There were 15 Irish-bred winners at the Cheltenham Festival, but the nine French-bred winners did not go unnoticed. Should this be a cause for concern?

Mares’ 7lb allowance

The 7lb mares’ allowance has long been a hot topic. Following the success of Honeysuckle, the debate around the mares’ allowance raises its head once more.

Current state of National Hunt racing

The panel will discuss the changing trends of National Hunt breeding and racing. Topics such as prize money, the number of horses in training, and the number of mares covered will be discussed.

Other topics

What has been the impact of Brexit on sales? What do the recent point-to-point boutique sales tell us?

The soundness of our jumping stock will also be discussed, along with a conversation on National Hunt stallions and the polarisation of the market.

The notable evolution of the sector in the last number of years has seen a drop in the number of entries, and this discussion will add to a packed agenda.

BREEDERS and other attendees will have the opportunity to engage directly with industry stakeholders prior to the commencement of the seminar.

Stakeholder representatives will be there to answer any relevant questions or queries breeders may have. We encourage attendees to arrive early to avail of this opportunity.

Weatherbys

The Weatherbys ePassport functionality will bring with it identification, traceability, health and welfare benefits for the thoroughbred industry. The ITBA looks forward to continue working with Weatherbys on the ePassport rollout.

Weatherbys representatives will be there on the day to discuss the ePassport in more detail and provide information to equine keepers around its implementation and uses.

Equuip

Equuip is the education and training department of Horse Racing Ireland. It provides much in the area of supports for people working in the Irish bloodstock industry or those wishing to forge a career in the industry. Equuip’s strategy is to attract new people to the industry by showcasing careers and opportunities available; developing people to enhance their skills and build their careers as well as supporting employers to retain their people through positive action. Equuip will be present.

We encourage all National Hunt enthusiasts to submit questions or topics you would like addressed.

Attendance is free. To register and submit any questions to be raised on the day, email utormey@itba.ie or call 045-877543.

DAVID JENNINGS (MC): David began working for the Racing Post on a freelance basis in 2008 before becoming full-time in May 2012. He is now the Deputy Ireland Editor, a role he has held for the past six years.

FRANK MOTHERWAY: Frank is the proprietor of Yellowford Farm situated in the east Cork countryside of Killeagh. As well as being a thoroughbred breeder with a broodmare band of over 30 mares, including the dams of Hurricane Fly and African Gold, the farm also boasts a large dairy herd. Yellowford Farm are major consignors at all sales, both National Hunt and flat. Frank is both an ITBA Council and NH Committee member. Horses bred by Yellowford include Lemista, Cadzand, Shearer and Party Central. Bellshill is the flagbearer though, having won five Grade 1 races including the Gold Cups at Leopardstown and Punchestown. His dam is Motherway’s Be My Native mare Fairy Native.

JANE MANGAN: From Conna, East Cork, Jane has been immersed in breeding and racing all her life. Jane enjoyed a successful career as an amateur jockey and in recent years has paved a successful career as a pedigree analyst, bloodstock consultant and television commentator.

KEVIN BLAKE: Kevin is a successful breeder, horse racing journalist and broadcaster based in Co Tipperary. He’s been involved in racing all his working life as an Irish racing analyst with The Sportsman, as Timeform’s Irish representative and as pupil assistant trainer/racing manager to British-based trainer Jeremy Gask. Kevin now works with ITV Racing, Sky Sports Racing and At The Races, as well as writing his regular Betting.Betfair column and is a contributor on the popular Racing only Bettor podcast. Kevin is also an active ITBA Council member.

RICHARD PUGH: Richard came from a hunting background with the Co Sligo Harriers and Galway Blazers, sparking his initial interests in horses. That in turn led to point-to-point racing where he rode for a short time and was fortunate to enjoy some memorable days before his final ride in 1996. The following year he began commentating and reporting for The Irish Field and in 2002 he was involved in the set-up of Irish-point-to-point.com which eventually became p2p.ie. It has played a role in the growth of point to points in Ireland. Richard is Director of Horses in Training with Tattersalls Ireland and is also on the ITBA National Hunt Committee.

RUBY WALSH: Former National Hunt champion jockey, Ruby retired from raceriding in 2019 after a career spanning 24 years. Ruby has ridden in excess of 2,700 winners which includes over 50 victories at the Cheltenham Festival, where he won the leading rider award 11 times, making him the most successful rider in its history. Ruby is a well-respected commentator with RTÉ Racing, ITV and Racing TV.