Following a meeting between numerous organisations within Irish racing, it was decided on Monday that flat racing will continue at Ballinrobe.

A week previous, racing at Ballinrobe was abandoned three races into an eight-race card after a group of senior jockeys expressed their discontent with the safety of the track to the stewards.

The riders reported that although the course was well laid out, the surface of the track was “giving way underfoot” which caused their mounts to slip. Trainers present at the track were sought to give their opinion before the decision was made to abandon the meeting. Racegoers were given a free voucher for Ballinrobe’s next meeting.

In the direct aftermath clerk of the course Lorcan Wyer expressed doubt over whether flat racing could continue at the Mayo track.

However, that concern was quashed at the offices of the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board where representatives from organisations including the Irish Jockeys Association, Irish Racehorse Trainers Association and Ballinrobe Race Committee found that the perceived issue with the racing surface was a once-off and unlikely to reoccur.

It was also advised that procedures which the stewards will apply for the calling off of race meetings will be reviewed.

Smullen progressing

Nine-time champion flat jockey Pat Smullen is “on the next step” of his recovery from a stomach tumour detected earlier this year.

The 40-year-old said: “Thankfully everything is going according to plan. We’re through the chemotherapy now and onto the next step.

“That will hopefully be followed by surgery and that’ll be the end of it.”