Irish authorities have given the go ahead for racing to resume in their country but it is still unlikely their horses will travel to Britain in the near future.

The Irish Horseracing Authority announced on Friday that racing would restart at Leopardstown and Cork on 14 April (Easter Saturday).

They will be the first fixtures in Ireland since the meeting at Naas on 25 February.

Racing had been banned in a move aimed at preventing foot and mouth disease reaching the republic.

Restrictions remain

Martin Moore, the chief executive of the Irish Horseracing Authority, said: "We plan to meet with the Department of Agriculture and the Turf Club over the coming days to finalise the controls and the code of practice required for the resumption of racing.

"In the short-term I do not expect any change in the restrictions on the import of horses to Ireland from the United Kingdom."

Moore did not comment on the possibility of Irish horses being able to travel to the UK.

But the guideline still stands that Irish horses should not travel overseas.

Meetings lost

This means that it is almost certain the country will have no runners at the Grand National meeting or the rescheduled Cheltenham Festival.

The Trainers' Association is planning to meet members of the Department of Agriculture on Monday.

It is expected that it will be agreed to stick by the guidelines not to send Irish horses to Britain for the time being.

Replacement fixtures

Twenty three race meetings will have been lost by the time sport finally resumes in Ireland.

The IHA's decision will allow Fairyhouse's Easter Festival to run as scheduled from 15-18 April.

Another big jumping event, the Punchestown Festival, will go ahead as planned from 24-28 April.

Consultations will take place to put on replacement fixtures in May and throughout the summer.