RACING NEWS ROUND-UP: RACING AT Punchestown today depends on an 8am inspection but even a red light this morning may not rule out a mouth-watering clash between Hurricane Fly and Solwhit at the Kildare track tomorrow.
Bookmakers rate both horses as Ireland’s best hopes for Champion Hurdle glory in March and they are among a four-runner field for tomorrow’s Grade One Dobbins and Madigans Hurdle.
Ground conditions are sure to be testing as Punchestown continues to try and cope with three inches of rain already this month – half of that in the last week – and with 20mm more forecast overnight.
That forecast necessitates an inspection this morning but the track was raceable yesterday and the Punchestown authorities are hopeful of both days going ahead.
“Our problem is that we are getting large volumes of rain in small spaces of time and the course can’t drain quickly enough.
“If we get all this rain between five and seven in the morning then we could be in trouble. But we are told that won’t happen and I would be hopeful we will cope,” manager Richie Galway said yesterday.
“If we do get the go-ahead on Saturday then I would be very confident of Sunday. The problem is the forecast on Friday night into Saturday. After that it will be showery with sunny spells,” he added.
“Even if we can’t race Saturday, there would still be a chance of racing on Sunday.”
That will be encouraging for Willie Mullins, who gets the Champion Hurdle favourite Hurricane Fly’s campaign towards Cheltenham underway and whatever the conditions, the ex-French star’s finishing kick will always make him a formidable opponent.
“We’re happy with him, but we will have to see how he copes with this ground after all the rain we’ve been having, but he’s ready to run,” said Mullins.
Muirhead and de Valira complete the field but even though Charles Byrnes has already stated that Solwhit will improve considerably for the run, the Aintree and Punchestown festival winner still looks the big danger to Hurricane Fly.
Pride of place on the under-card goes to Sizing Europe who puts his unbeaten record over fences on the line in the Craddockstown Novice Chase. Already joint-favourite for the Arkle, Sizing Europe should have no trouble with the conditions this weekend.
“He was brilliant the last day. I couldn’t have wished for more so fingers crossed it will be the same thing again,” his trainer Henry De Bromhead said yesterday.
Noel Meade will be represented by Hotel Hilamar in the Craddockstown but he will also be a major player in the other novice chases, with Fisher Bridge looking to be a major player in the Grade Three and Jered coming back for another crack at these fences.
The Grade One hurdle winner couldn’t quite peg back Major Finnegan on his debut, looking as if today’s extra half mile would suit him ideally.
If racing does go ahead today then Dunguib will be the undoubted star of the show in the conditions hurdle and anything but a win would be a major shock.
“He is in good form and if we can’t run, then he will go straight for the Royal Bond later in the month,” Dunguib’s trainer Philip Fenton said yesterday.
Quel Esprit is highly rated by Willie Mullins and expected to take a high ranking in this season’s novice ranks over staying trips. He has Hugo de Vindecy to beat in the second maiden hurdle.
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