Plan to reschedule

The Fairyhouse executive hope to reschedule their Irish Grand National festival for before the end of April after last night's decision to postpone the traditional Easter racing highlight.

The four-day festival, scheduled to begin on Easter Sunday and which includes the Powers Gold Label Irish Grand National on Easter Monday, was cancelled due to the uncertainty surrounding a date for the resumption of racing in Ireland.

"It's very disapointing for everyone at Fairyhouse but we are confident as much of the festival as possible can be saved and we hope to re-schedule within a fortnight of the original dates," said manager Dick Sheil after a board meeting yesterday.

The Turf Club and the Irish Horseracing Authority are awaiting the news as to when racing can resume and the Turf Club chief executive Brian Kavanagh said he expects a decision either today or tomorrow.

The IHA's original hope was to restart on April 14th at Leopardstown and Cork but even if that date is verified, it will be too late for one of the highlights of the Irish racing year.

Leading Irish novice Sackville is set to be added to the entries for the Heidsieck Monopole Mildmay Novices' Chase at Aintree on Friday. Frances Crowley, the eight-year-old's trainer, said yesterday: "We'll probably enter him at Aintree but if things get under way in Ireland we'll keep him here for Fairyhouse and Punchestown because if he goes to Aintree he won't be allowed to come home."

In the light of yesterday's announcement on the rescheduling of Fairyhouse Sackville looks likely to be Aintree bound.