Brian Kavanagh was yesterday appointed as chief executive of Horseracing Ireland. He will take up the position from December 1st.

A chartered accountant working in the racing industry for the last 12 years, 37-year-old Kavanagh has been chief executive of the Turf Club for the past two years, having been its financial controller in 1989 and then as general manager of the Curragh racecourse from 1995.

Horseracing Ireland, a new State body established to oversee the future development of the thoroughbred industry, will replace the existing Irish Horseracing Authority.

It was still unclear yesterday whether Kevin Darley and Johnny Murtagh will be able to ride in Britain later this week after picking up suspensions in Sunday's Canadian International at Woodbine.

The jockeys are due to be sidelined tomorrow, Friday and Saturday this week but there are Group races taking place at Newmarket on each of those three days. So the Jockey Club are awaiting a ruling from Canada on the matter