Tramore abandoned after five of seven races

Racing at Tramore on Saturday was abandoned after five of the scheduled seven races on the card.

Officials gave the fixture the go-ahead following an 8.30am inspection with the course deemed heavy but raceable, although they were anxious to monitor conditions throughout the afternoon.

Following an inspection of the course by the acting stewards after the running of the fifth race, the track was found to be waterlogged in places and unsafe, rendering it unfit for racing to continue.

The stewards therefore abandoned the remainder of the meeting in the interests of safety.

Clerk of the course Paddy Graffin said: “I said to the lads (jockeys) from the outset that if they had any concerns they should come to me. I knew we were borderline. I felt that if the rain abated that we stood a good chance.

“After the first the jockeys came in and said they would get through it and they felt quite positive about it. We could move different running lines down the hill and we got through the four hurdle races.

“When we went jumping on the different track at least three of the very supportive jockeys said it was getting dodgy and I rely on them. They felt it wasn’t safe with the extra effort jumping fences. It’s all about safety and the ground just got too deep.

“I took the advice from the professional jockeys which I respect greatly and to be honest they assisted us to the point of having a successful day until we had to pull it.”

Charles Byrnes was certainly glad the majority of the card was completed, with a double including Rosie Alice in the opening Mares Maiden Hurdle.

Byrnes owns, trains and bred the four-year-old, who won easily under Davy Russell, returning at odds of 100-30 having been available at much bigger earlier in the day.

The trainer said: “She handled the ground well and the rest of them dropped away, she just kept going. Her mother won a point-to-point and I have her at home. She is by a top sire in Beneficial.”

The stewards inquired into the apparent improvement in form of Rosie Alice and noted Byrnes’s explanation.

The Byrnes-Russell brace was completed by Cyprian Prince in the Beginners Chase, with the well-backed 11-8 favourite accounting for Rightback Atya by eight and a half lengths.

Byrnes said: “He has had problems all along and his owner has been patient with him. He won a point-to-point first time out and then ran well in a bumper which was won by a decent Gigginstown horse (Band Of Blood).

“I didn’t have him then. It was downhill after that, he had leg trouble and bits and pieces. He will go handicapping now.”