TODAY’S FIXTURE at Tramore is subject to a 7.30am inspection this morning. Although the course was raceable yesterday, an adverse weather forecast is giving cause for concern.
The National Hunt meeting is due to commence at 12.35pm, with the ground currently described as heavy. Turf Club press officer Cliff Noone said: “There’s been rain and sleet all day, so they’ve decided to have a look. It just depends on how much has fallen, and how much more is due to fall. At this stage, it’s touch and go.”
If racing does get the green light, the David Casey-ridden Drive On Regardless looks the bet of the day.
Two scheduled races over fences at Cork on Saturday – the McCarthy Insurance Group Handicap Steeplechase and the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Beginners Steeplechase – have been cancelled due to a waterlogged racetrack.
However, the venue is still planning to stage a six-race hurdle and bumper programme after one event has been divided.
The ground on the hurdle and bumper course is described as heavy.
Cheltenham have taken the decision to deploy frost covers over the entire track ahead of their meeting on New Year’s Day.
The Prestbury Park venue escaped the snow that was forecast overnight but it was hit by 22 millimetres of rain turning the ground soft, heavy in places.
Temperatures on New Year’s Eve are set to dip below freezing though, so officials have taken the decision to use the covers, which helped in saving Kempton’s Christmas meeting.
Clerk of the course Simon Claisse said: “With forecasts suggesting temperatures of minus four degrees on Thursday night and the absence of any snow last night, we are deploying the frost covers today to give us the best chance of racing on Friday.
“If the forecasts prove correct, we would be confident of racing on New Year’s Day.”
Today’s scheduled meeting at Uttoxeter was abandoned yesterday due to a waterlogged track, while officials at Musselburgh have been forced to abandon their New Year’s Day fixture.
Catterick’s New Year’s Day fixture is subject to an 8am inspection this morning.
