No chases at Killarney

RACING: The Killarney authorities insist they will have no problems running off the four-day festival set to start on Monday.

Following a Turf Club inspection of the track yesterday it was decided to take out the steeplechase fences and use that course for the flat and hurdle races.

The going at the Co Kerry track was reported as "good to yielding with some heavy patches" and it is those heavy patches that have caused the change in plans.

"Ninety five per cent of the track is perfectly raceable and we will have no problem going ahead. We will race for the four days with a six-race card each day," said the Killarney manager Michael Doyle.

Five steeplechase races have been lost. A maximum of 14 runners will be allowed in flat races and 15 in hurdles races.

On the classic front, the Michael Stoute-trained L'Affaire Monique was the each-way interest yesterday for the Darley Irish Oaks. The Chepstow maiden winner is now a 12 to 1 shot.

Jockey plans for both Mellow Park and Lady's Secret were confirmed with Michael Hills on the latter and Darryl Holland retaining the ride on Mellow Park.

It will be a busy evening at Navan and Wexford with 15 races between them and an interesting contender at Navan will be Charlie Swan's German import Anno Jubilo in the first division of the maiden hurdle.

Final Case ran seventh to Carrie Me Home at Cork on his only start this season but looks a type to go close in the nine-furlong handicap. The most interesting race at Wexford looks to be the novice chase where Aidan O'Brien has a rare steeplechase starter in Kilcash Castle, who hasn't run since finishing sixth of seven to Ned Kelly in the AIG in January but the claims of Galway Breeze look better.

Sligo's Sunday meeting has been abandoned after recent heavy rain.