The Government yesterday banned all racing in Ireland and "strongly advised" against people and horses travelling to the UK for the Cheltenham Festival which starts in 13 days time.
However, Aidan O'Brien last night indicated the triple champion hurdler Istabraq will run at Cheltenham if the Festival goes ahead on Tuesday week.
The J P McManus-owned Istabraq has won at Cheltenham for the last four years and is on the verge of becoming the first horse to win the Smurfit Champion Hurdle on four occasions.
O'Brien is unsure about whether the Festival will get the green light, especially considering the Jockey Club's seven-day suspension on racing in Britain which starts today but is keen to run Istabraq if it does.
"It will be J P's decision but I would imagine he would like the horse to go. It would be great if they raced. Istabraq has been prepared all year for this race and he's in good shape," O'Brien said.
He added: "I wouldn't like to go against the Minister but if they are going to race at Cheltenham I think Istabraq will be there. I would imagine it would be OK for horses to be sent and then stay over there. Obviously you couldn't risk bringing them back in."
Other top racing personalities echoed O'Brien's belief that horses could travel and then stay in Britain if the Cheltenham Festival does go ahead.
Willie Mullins, the chairman of the Trainers' Association and trainer of Ireland's principal Gold Cup hope Florida Pearl, said the transport of horses to the Festival would not present major problems.
"I think if the disease doesn't spread any more in Britain then it could be managed," Mullins said. "If it gets worse it's out of our hands anyway but if there is racing I could see the good horses with reasonable chances travelling over and then staying."
He added: "There would be less than 70 horses from Ireland anyway which would be a manageable number to look after. These horses would go from their own yard to the Cheltenham stableyard and not mix with any of the English horses when they're being stabled.
"People travelling is a different matter but I don't think there is any problem getting horses there."
Mullins admitted to a little surprise at the blanket ban on racing in Ireland which a Department of Agriculture spokesman said would be in place "until further notice".
But the Co Carlow trainer said: "The Irish economy is so dependent on agriculture we have to go along with these strict measures. Nobody wants to put agriculture in this country in jeopardy.
"Foot and mouth is a frightening disease and if it gets any worse in Britain I couldn't see racing back here within a fortnight. It's a quiet time for the racing industry here even though we're in the middle of the National Hunt season."
The ban on the importation of horses from the UK is a potential disaster for the thoroughbred breeding industry in Ireland but a breeders' spokesman said there was no short term worry.
Michael O'Hagen of the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders Association said: "It's early enough in the breeding season that the ban could be in place for one or two weeks before unholy hell breaks out. But after that it could get serious."
He added: "The Government weren't left with a lot of options and if we can stand still long enough for the English to get this disease under control then everyone will benefit. England is one of our biggest customers and if we can stop it now a week or two will be a small price to pay."
