Leopardstown in doubt

SUNDAY’S TRIPLE Grade One card at Leopardstown could have to be rescheduled with “horrific” conditions leaving the prestigious Hennessy fixture under threat.

The Co Dublin course was unraceable yesterday after almost two inches of overnight rain fell in only 12 hours. On top of a track already covered in snow it left the authorities at Leopardstown with their fingers crossed for the weekend.

“On top of the snow, we got 47mms of rain on Tuesday night and into Wednesday morning. Conditions were horrific and it means everything will need to go in our favour if we are to race on Sunday,” the Leopardstown manager, Tom Burke, said yesterday.

The current cold snap has also left Naas, which is due to race on Saturday, in an unraceable state and the same applies to Fairyhouse which is due to host meetings next Tuesday and Wednesday.

Losing the Hennessy meeting, though, would be a major blow to Leopardstown who even last September had to postpone its Irish Champion Stakes meeting 24 hours due to ground conditions.

The going will be continually monitored over the next few days but Burke admitted: “We will have to look at rescheduling next week if we can’t go on Sunday.

“The forecast is supposed to be dry for a while which will help but we will need to look at it again tomorrow.”

One man hoping the meeting gets the green light is Oliver Brady who plans to run Ebadiyan in the Grade Two Spring Juvenile Hurdle.

Brady also intends to run the ex-John Oxx-trained horse in the Triumph at Cheltenham but warned yesterday: “If it’s too testing he might not go on Sunday. But as it’s the first race we will be getting the best of the ground. He will be a stone better on good ground and the plan after Sunday is to go straight to Cheltenham.”

On The Way Out, ninth in the Pierse Hurdle, sets a 128 standard in today’s Listed novice hurdle at Clonmel but it’s worth betting that Cockleshell Road can get the better of him.

Edward O’Grady’s horse impressed when beating Themoonandsixpence at Fairyhouse on New Year’s Day and although the runner-up has been well beaten since, it looks significant that O’Grady is pitching his charge into this company.

Callherwhatulikedisappointed when running behind Conem at Leopardstown but looks worth another shout against Financial Reward and Hurricane Carter in the conditions chase.

Murtagh teams up with Asiatic Boy

FAR FROM any snow and ice Johnny Murtagh again teams up with Asiatic Boy when he returns to action at this evening’s Nad Al Sheba card in the Dubai desert.

The Meathman has four scheduled rides today, including the Ger Lyons-trained pair of Fiery Lad and Summit Surge, on an evening when seven Irish-trained horses are due to appear, writes Brian O’Connor.

However, Murtagh’s main engagement will be in the Group Three Al Maktoum Challenge over nine furlongs on dirt when Asiatic Boy has his first start since finishing runner-up to Curlin in last year’s World Cup.

Murtagh rode Asiatic Boy that night, and also to two victories on the track, and has been again booked to ride the horse by the South African trainer Mike De Kock.

The partnership will also team up for Inca Noble in the Group Three Cape Verdi on turf.

“Asiatic Boy’s campaign is again geared around the World Cup. He is pleasing us in his work but will improve for the outing,” De Kock said yesterday.

De Kock and Murtagh clashed after last August’s Arlington Million in Chicago when the South African took exception to Coolmore’s number one rider’s tactics on board Mount Nelson, claiming Murtagh boxed in his runner Archipenko who finished runner-up to Spirit One.

Jim Bolger and Kevin Manning will be in Group Three action themselves with Akua’Ba who takes her chance in the Cape Verdi and the Derby winning team also run Via Galilei in a 10-furlong handicap alongside Charlie Swan’s Varsity.

Michael Kinane will be on board John Oxx’s Red Eye Express in the evening’s final event, a mile-and-a-quarter turf handicap.