AFTER an inspection of the steeplechase course at Tipperary yesterday, it has been decided by the Stewards of the INHS Committee to abandon tomorrow's Victoria Park Handicap Chase. One of the remaining races will be divided to make a seven-race card.
Inspector of Courses Billy McLernon took the decision after he found the chase course unraceable due to routine maintenance work undertaken which had not been satisfactorily completed due to adverse weather conditions.
The stewards also ordered that the Rosehill Handicap Hurdle be designated as a race in the Australian-Irish Jump Jockey challenge.
Navan host the second leg of this annual event this afternoon and the Aussies may steal the show again when Tom Hazlett who impressed many with his handling of Tarajan at Roscommon on Monday, partners Springfort Lady - a 20-length winner at Clonmel last month - in the Wilkinstown Handicap Chase.
It seems absurd that the Australian jockeys cannot secure any more rides on a card that includes four national hunt races excluding the bumper).
Jack Yeats has been placed in his last four runs when trained by John Hayden and deserves a change of luck in the Kingscourt Maiden Hurdle.
