Donald McCain back in action with two runners at Musselburgh after equine flu outbreak

Trainer Donald McCain, whose stable was at the centre of the equine flu outbreak earlier this month, has his first runners since being shut down at Musselburgh on Wednesday afternoon.

Positive tests on three horses in McCain’s Cheshire stable on February 6 prompted the BHA to order a six-day shut-down of the sport in an effort to make sure the highly-contagious illness did not spread.

A further three horses in the stable, including Ayr runner Raise A Spark, also subsequently tested positive to flu.

Donald McCain has been cleared to have runners again following the equine flu outbreak

Raise A Spark, pictured being ridden by Henry Brooke, tested positive for the virus

McCain, who runs Henry’s Joy (3.45) and The Character (4.20), said: ‘It’s great to get a couple of runners back, so hopefully they run well. We backed off them a little bit for a week or so, but we never completely stopped.

‘My staff have been brilliant, as have my owners, so we just want to get back at it.’ The Newmarket stable of Simon Crisford, the other stable where horses tested positive to flu, has still to be cleared to have runners.

A BHA spokesman said: ‘”Following completion of the testing of horses from his yard, Donald McCain has been cleared to have runners again. The BHA remains grateful for the professionalism showed by the trainer in terms of the measures he put in place to control the spread of the disease at his yard.

The positive test for flu on three of McCain’s horses prompted the BHA to shut down the sport

‘Only one other yard – which was also the site of infection – now remains on hold. The BHA and Animal Health Trust are working with this yard in order to have them cleared to compete again as soon as is safely possible.

‘The virus is still a potential risk in both Britain and Europe and we ask that everyone in the sport remains vigilant and observes good biosecurity practices in order to help prevent any further outbreaks.’