Precautionary inspection as Laytown prepares

One of the world's most unusual race meetings is scheduled to continue its 130-year tradition at Laytown this afternoon, where six races will be run on the famous Co Meath beach if the "track" passes a morning inspection.

Considering the track wasn't even there less than a week ago, a precautionary look by officials is understandable, but the Turf Club were entirely confident yesterday of racing going ahead.

"Last Wednesday the sandbank that was expected to be there wasn't there, so an inspection was held on Sunday by which time everything was present and correct," said the Turf Club spokesman, Cliff Noone, yesterday.

"At the moment the inspection is purely precautionary," he added.

Paris Sue, last year's winner of the opening six furlong handicap, can prove the value of experience on the strand with a follow-up, while Unicorn Reward's 72 rating looks good enough in the context of the claimer.

The top National Hunt rider Denis O'Regan looks an appropriate partner for Richelieu in the seven furlong maiden, considering this one's racecourse debut was in a bumper last January.

Two place efforts over five furlongs in June were an unusual follow-up for the horse, but at least stamina shouldn't be a problem and Richelieu looks a better bet than John Murtagh's mount Kleinova.