New concern for Dundalk

RACING:IRISH RACING is going into "uncharted territory" this weekend when Dundalk's all-weather circuit solves one problem but creates another.

A pair of fixtures this weekend is scheduled to end an eight-day hiatus in racing action in Ireland, but whereas confidence is high the track can cope with the freezing conditions, problems could yet arise off-course.

“Normally in conditions like this the problem is the track,” Turf Club chief executive Denis Egan said yesterday. “But that looks like being okay. The big problem here could be in people actually getting to Dundalk, so in that sense we are in uncharted territory.”

There was significant snowfall at Dundalk yesterday but the authorities there are confident the track will be raceable. “We have had snow ploughs in here this week and we will do the same tomorrow,” Dundalk spokeswoman Emma Meehan said.

“We have also salted the public areas and the main thoroughfares. The issue isn’t the track. But outside of that it is out of our hands.”

Currently Dundalk is due to stage four meetings before Ireland’s 2010 flat season winds up next Saturday, and the continuing battle for the apprentice title will take another couple of steps this weekend.

Gary Carroll and Ben Curtis are both on 37 winners for the season, with Joseph O’Brien, who won an appeal of a two-day whip ban on Wednesday, on 35 winners.

All three could be in winning action tomorrow where Carroll, in particular, could enjoy a good start to proceedings with Trotting Weasel and Sampers.

The current apprentice title holder also looks to have good prospects today should Leaves You Baby line up in the Michael O’Leary colours for the mile-and-a-quarter maiden. The Pivotal filly has improved once given the chance to run on the all-weather and could be progressive enough to cope with the 72-rated Confidence.

Pat Smullen can all but tie up a sixth senior jockeys title this weekend. Already six clear of Johnny Murtagh, he may have a good session tomorrow where Ready When You Are can be competitive in the second division of the juvenile maiden and Maunsells Duke could strike in the mile handicap.

The impact of the cold snap looks like continuing into next week, with Fairyhouse’s authorities admitting they are “pessimistic” about the chances of the twice-postponed winter festival fixture going ahead on Wednesday.

Half-a-foot of snow is lying on the track, and the Met Office is telling the racecourse authorities that a significant thaw doesn’t look like arriving in time.

“Realistically we have to be pessimistic,” Fairyhouse manager Peter Roe said. “We are being told temperatures next week won’t rise above two or three degrees. The usual Turf Club inspection will take place on Monday and we could make a decision then.

“The other thing that has to be remembered is that even if the snow did go we then would have to deal with a lot of water,” he added.

The triple-Grade One card was originally due to be held last Sunday and was postponed to Thursday, only to be cancelled again.

O'Donoghue to partner O'Brien duo

AIDAN O’BRIEN’S two-pronged challenge for tomorrow week’s International meeting in Hong Kong is set to be in place today when the Group One winner Beethoven arrives in the Far East to join stable companion Joshua Tree, writes Brian O’Connor.

The latter flew in from Japan yesterday and will attempt to secure a second top-flight victory of the season in next weekend’s Cathay Pacific International Vase.

Joshua Tree finished 12th in last Sunday’s Japan Cup but wasn’t beaten far, and he is a 12 to 1 shot with Ladbrokes for the Vase, where the Melbourne Cup winner Americain is a 4 to 1 favourite.

Beethoven is a 20 to 1 outsider for the Mile event at the Sha Tin track, where he is due to clash with a high-class field that includes Richard Hannon’s top-class runner Paco Boy.

Colm O’Donoghue, who will ride both Irish hopes, flew to Hong Kong after riding Joshua Tree in Japan last weekend. It is the Cork jockey’s first visit to Hong Kong and he hopes to secure pre-festival rides at Happy Valley this Wednesday.

“Joshua Tree has come out of the Japan Cup very fresh,” O’Donoghue said. “He only lost two kilos and he will be a relatively fresh three-year-old against older horses who have had a long campaign. They might appreciate a pure mile-and-a-half, but our horse has a mixture of stamina and speed which should be a help around a tight turning track.”

Joshua Tree finished out of the money in Tokyo but wasn’t beaten far in a controversial race where Buena Vista was thrown out of first place by the stewards.

“There wasn’t a great pace. In fact, he really only raced for seven furlongs. I was in a great position but the ‘winner’ came on the outside and I ended up with others in front of me. But he was only beaten four or five lengths against top-class horses,” O’Donoghue said.

Beethoven disappointed in the Breeders’ Cup Mile behind Goldikova, but last year’s Dewhurst winner has a final chance to secure a top-flight prize in 2010 next weekend.

“I rode him in a piece of work before I came out here and he was in great form. He’s had a tough year, competing at the highest level, but he is a tough, hardy individual,” O’Donoghue reported.