Kevin Ryan gets first winner since Equine Herpes virus forced a temporary closure of his yard
Yorkshire trainer Kevin Ryan was forced to close his yard at the beginning of the month after a one of his horses tested positive for Equine Herpes, but last night he secured his first winner since the yard was re-opened at Hamilton.
KEVIN RYAN'S horses are reported in "great form" after he secured a first winner since the British Horseracing Authority lifted the quarantine restrictions at his North Yorkshire yard.
Ryan was forced under BHA protocol to shut down his operation after one of his horses tested positive for Equine Herpes Virus-1.
The BHA announced the temporary closure on June 1, but Ryan had his first runners since May 30 at Ayr last Saturday.
And the Hambleton handler was on the mark at the 18th attempt since his return when Company Asset won a fillies' handicap at Hamilton on Thursday evening.
Successful jockey Kevin Stott is attached to Ryan's yard and told Racing UK: "They're all in great form at home.
"They're bouncing and all ready to run, so I'm pretty sure we're going to have a good few months.
"It's one of those things. You can't predict it and I'm just glad the horses are all right."
Though Ryan had been allowed to have runners, two of the six barns in which the trainer has horses had still been in quarantine "purely as a precaution".
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But the BHA announced on Friday that the trainer is now free to run any of his horses from his Hambleton Lodge stables.
David Sykes, BHA director of equine health and welfare, said: "Following continued assessment and monitoring, the remaining two barns at Kevin Ryan's yard have had their quarantine lifted, meaning all horses from the yard are now free to declare and race.
"As a precaution, all horses who are declared to run are being swabbed at the yard by a vet to ensure they are virus free before being allowed to travel to the racecourse.
"Providing no further cases of the neurological form of the virus are identified, the BHA will be satisfied that Mr Ryan's yard no longer poses a risk of infection.
"Once again, we are grateful to Mr Ryan for his continued patience and understanding during this time."