Forecast rain a concern

THE WEATHER continues to affect the home racing calendar, with Sunday’s scheduled fixture at Cork cancelled yesterday due to severe waterlogging.

Racing is still due to resume tomorrow at Naas and Thurles, and conditions were raceable at the Co Kildare course yesterday, with ground conditions officially heavy.

However, a forecast band of heavy rain tonight is causing some concern at Naas, and at Fairyhouse, which is due to race on Sunday.

The chase and hurdle tracks were raceable at Fairyhouse yesterday, and manager Caroline Gray said: “Our only worry is a band of rain forecast to come in on Friday night. Saturday and Sunday are scheduled to be dry and bright.”

In other news, Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) have announced a €20 two-day ticket at Leopardstown next weekend for the MCR Hurdle and Irish Champion Hurdle cards on Saturday and Sunday.

The promotion is part of a “Back to Racing” campaign following the recent poor weather and is available on Leopardstown.com, by phone or with the track directly. Tickets at the gate will be €15, a 25 per cent drop on 2009.

“The special offer represents a 50 per cent discount on 2009 prices, an exceptional offer to celebrate the back to racing weekend,” said HRI racecourse chief executive officer Michael O’Rourke.

Ladbrokes have installed Solwhit as a 6 to 4 favourite for the Irish Champion Hurdle, with Celestial Halo rated a 3 to 1 shot.

IRISH CHAMPION HURDLE (betting):6-4 Solwhit, 3 Celestial Halo, 7-2 Punjabi, 4 Voler La Vedette, 9 Donnas Palm, 12 Jumbo Rio, Torpichen, 16 Al Eile, Mr Thriller, 20 Bar.