The continuing improvement of Irish racecourse facilities continues apace. Yesterday, at a press conference in the Shelbourne Hotel, it was the turn of Fairyhouse to spell out their new look for the millennium.

Frank O'Reilly, the chairman, explained the development had a budget of more than £15 million. The course manager and secretary, Roy Craigie, said more half the budget will be spent in phase one, which will begin after the 1999 Easter festival meeting. That work should be completed by November.

Top of the agenda is the demolition of the general enclosure grandstand and the owners' and trainers' stand, to be replaced by a single, three-storey structure, to be linked to the existing Jameson Stand. It will accommodate 9,000 spectators.

Also, access to the weigh-room from the Jameson stand, which has been more suitable for training marathon runners than assisting officials, trainers and journalists to go about their business, will be improved by relocating the room to a more central position.

The most revolutionary of all the ideas in phase one is the provision of new schooling units for young trainers who perhaps lack the capital to acquire their own place. They will be allowed to work out on the schooling ground, but, said Craigie: "They will be barred from the racetrack proper. That ground is sacred."

The second part of the development, for which planning permission has been sought from Meath County Council, is a 60-bedroom hotel and leisure complex on ground currently used for overflow car parking on Easter Monday. That will be diverted to a field adjacent to Tattersalls.

O'Reilly said the aim "is to retain racing and equestrianism as key activities, but to develop Fairyhouse so that it will provide a recreational and amenity infrastructure for local people and visitors alike."

Meanwhile, Michael Kinane is to renew his link with Hong Kong after accepting a Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) offer to ride in the territory during December.

The multiple Irish champion will ride on a HKJC international licence until the Christmas break.

Kinane said: "I have accepted the offer and will be available to accept rides in Hong Kong as of December 5th. I am looking forward to it."

The big race specialist used to be a frequent winter visitor to Hong Kong, where he was retained by David Oughton.

Kinane's roll of honour in Hong Kong includes two Derbys (Sound Print and Che Sara Sara), the International Vase (Luso) and the International Bowl (Additional Risk).

Kinane is due to ride Clive Brittain's Luso as the latter bids to complete a hat-trick of wins in the Vase at Sha Tin next month.

Kieren Fallon and Michael Hills will both be commencing three month stints in Hong Kong next month.

Tony McCoy will discover "early next week" whether his latest whip indiscretion will rule him out of the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup. He was referred to the Jockey Club disciplinary committee after being found guilty of using his whip with excessive frequency on Bamapour at Fontwell on Monday.

The champion jump jockey has been suspended for a total of 15 days for whip offences since April 4th and his latest ban has triggered his referral to the disciplinary committee under the totting-up procedure.

A Jockey Club spokeswoman said: "Tony McCoy has been referred to the disciplinary committee and it is likely to be heard early next week."

But she stressed: "He might not be found in breach. If he is found in breach and if he is banned, he could miss the Hennessy, but that is a lot of ifs."

The Hennessy, to be run at Newbury a fortnight on Saturday, is one of the few big races to have eluded McCoy in his meteoric riding career.

If available, he is likely to partner Cyfor Malta - whom he is also due to ride in the Murphy's Gold Cup at Cheltenham this Saturday.

Mother of Pearl gave Peter Chapple-Hyam his second French win in 48 hours by battling her way to victory in the £22,222 Group Three Prix Saint-Roman (1m) at Saint-Cloud yesterday. Mother of Pearl and Olivier Peslier beat the German filly, Miss Tobacco, by half a length on a heavy track. The 9 to 10 shot, now undefeated in two starts, is a half sister to the 1994 Irish 2,000 Guineas winner, Turtle Island.