Irish trainers have confirmed they will not be sending horses to the Cheltenham National Hunt festival because of the foot-and-mouth outbreak in Britain.
The decision was made at a meeting of the Irish Racehorse Trainers' Association this afternoon.
Up to 50 horses were expected to travel across the Irish Sea for the three-day meeting which starts on March 13th.
The annual festival at Prestbury Park attracts over 10,000 Irish racegoers.
In a statement released this afternoon the committee said it "unequivocally endorsed" the desire of Agricultural Minister Joe Walsh that Irish-trained horses miss the festival.
"Given the present crisis with which we are engulfed and until such time as the problem is under control the committee is advising our members that under no circumstance should Irish trained horses be sent to race in the UK," the statement said.
"We also urge the racing public to give due credence to the severity of the problem and refrain from travelling to Cheltenham."
Irish Racehorse Trainers’ Association chairman Willie Mullins, whose strong Festival team would have included Gold Cup hope Florida Pearl, explained the decision.
He said: "We were very mindful in making this decision of the fact that Irish spectators and punters who go to Cheltenham stay anything up to 50 miles from the course and they would be running every risk, even more so than the horses, of bringing infection back home with them.
"We made soundings with our members before the committee convened and not one of them said they disagreed with our stance.
"When you see people losing their livelihoods in a day nobody in our Association wanted to take any chance of that happening over here.
"On a personal note it is obviously very disappointing not to be going to Cheltenham, and probably Aintree after that, but I would be far more disappointed if I lost my entire yard as is happening to many farmers.
"This is a bit of hardship for us, but nothing compared to what the farming community would endure if this disease got a hold here.
Mullins is also pessimistic about the chances of racing in Ireland making an early resumption.
"We are looking at a ban on racing until Easter at least over here and possibly even longer if foot and mouth is over here."
Sackville trainer Frances Crowley admitted her disappointment she would be unable to run her star chaser in the Royal and SunAlliance Chase at the festival.
"I`m gutted really," she said. "I still don`t think we have seen the best of Sackville. I think three miles, one furlong at Cheltenham would have suited him down to the ground."
Paddy Powerchief executive Stewart Kenny has confirmed the company will refund all ante-post Cheltenham bets.
"We would never like to see the public wrong . . . of course we will be paying money back," he told ireland.com.
Paddy Powerwill make an official statement regarding the issue on Monday.
PA