BRIAN KAVANAGH, Chief Executive of Horse Racing Ireland, has been confirmed as the new Chairman of the European Pattern Committee (EPC), succeeding Tristram Ricketts, who is leaving his position as British Horseracing Board Secretary General to return to the Horserace Betting Levy Board as Chief Executive.

The British Horseracing Board have announced that eight courses - which currently fall within foot-and-mouth exclusion zones - have been given the all-clear in principle to resume racing from a week on Thursday.

Owners, trainers and racegoers are digesting the news that the National Hunt code's most prestigious meeting, Cheltenham, had been postponed.