Johnny Levins’ long-term plan to have a crack at the Ayr Gold Cup with Your Pal Tal remains in place following the progressive five-year-old’s narrow victory over Majestic Timeline in the opening five-furlong handicap in Dundalk last night.

Prize money in Ireland is to be increased by €5m in 2015 to €53.9m.

Prize money in Ireland is to be increased by €5m in 2015 to €53.9m, Horse Racing Ireland has announced.

Willie Mullins has pinpointed the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton on December 26 as the next likely engagement for Champion Hurdle favourite, Faugheen.

THE Board of Horse Racing Ireland is to set up a high-powered working group to ensure the industry’s drug testing regime is as robust as possible and operates at the highest international standards.

The recommendations of the Indecon Report surrounding the governance and fundraising of horse racing in Ireland will be acted on before the end of the year, according to the Minister for Agriculture, Food & the Marine, Simon Coveney.

The Flat season gets under way this weekend, although it will be a low-key opening for me due to the weather.

Willie Mullins’ Tarla proved far too good for Rebel Fitz in the www.racinghomeforeaster.com Hurdle at cold and wet Cork yesterday when thousands of students were on site.

Legislation to facilitate the taxation of offshore betting will be in place by the end of February but horse racing will not be in a position to fund itself directly as a result.