Weather hits Wexford

RACING: Wexford's most valuable two days of the year may end up being an unfortunate wash-out but both Galway and Leopardstown are expecting no problems ahead of their own Bank Holiday weekend fixtures.

There is a noon inspection at Wexford today to see if tomorrow's fixture can go ahead. However a poor weather forecast is not encouraging hopes that the Sunday card will escape the fate this afternoon's scheduled meeting suffered. That was cancelled early yesterday.

Leopardstown hosts the Group Three Kilavullan Stakes on Monday and the track's racing manager Tom Burke said yesterday: "The threat we had of prolonged rain on Sunday is now said to be unlikely. It's just showers for the next few days so we are not considering an inspection at the moment."

It's a similar story for Galway where the going is now heavy.

"The clerk of the course Joe Collins has had a look and he is quite happy with things. We have no problems," said the Galway manager John Moloney yesterday.

The feature in the west is the Grade Three Ballybrit Novice Chase where Sir Oj is an interesting representative from the Noel Meade yard.

The champion trainer also had Always and the highly-touted Watson Lake in this at the last stage so Sir Oj must hold every chance of following up his Gowran success.

Riverboatman has legitimate claims to being the best juvenile hurdler seen out in Ireland so far this season and on the back of two jumping wins he looks an interesting contender for the mile and a half handicap.

Kilbeggan Lad should benefit a lot for his comeback race at the Listowel festival and Michael Hourigan's horse should go close in the Listed Handicap Hurdle.