The effects on the Irish breeding industry of the decision to pay breeders' prizes in Britain only to the progeny of British-based stallions were described as negligible by Irish breeders yesterday.

The British decision, which is backed by the levy board, will begin in three years time and is intended to help the pressurised UK breeding industry against the counter attraction of overseas stallions.

However, Michael O'Hagan of the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders' Association said yesterday: "I don't think it will have a huge effect. The very best stallions in the world are in Ireland and other countries are trying to compensate for that."

Grant Pritchard Gordon, of the UK Thoroughbred Breeders Association, explained the move, which will start with the two-year-olds of 2002, by saying: "British breeders and stallion owners are finding it harder and harder to compete with overseas competitors who are often advantaged by special tax concessions."