Punters who arrived at Thurles yesterday expecting a 12.30 start were instead offered uncertainty and, ultimately, just a five-race card.
Freezing conditions had necessitated a 7.0 a.m. inspection, which the entire track passed - on the grounds that the temperatures would improve later in the morning. They didn't. Just one hour before the scheduled start, the opening two steeplechases were abandoned because of the conditions on the chase track, and the number of people still examining the hurdles course didn't exactly inspire confidence about any of the card being run off.
There was still some frost in the ground at 12.45, but the stewards had decided to move the hurdles course to the inner, and the former champion jockey, Charlie Swan, commented: "It's alright. It's fresh ground and they seem to be able to get into it."
The first contest was off at 1.30, much to the delight of course manager Pierce Molony, who said before the third race: "Conditions deteriorated rapidly from 10.0, even though the forecast was for the temperatures to start rising at 9.0. Instead the temperatures only started rising at 12.0 and now the chase track is perfectly sound, but we erred on the side of safety."
The conditions, however, caused leading trainer Edward O'Grady to withdraw his three runners, although he stressed: "My horses have suspect legs and I felt that if anything had gone wrong I would have kicked myself. I thought it was a risk I would avoid, but I'm pleased that Thurles were able to offer other horses the opportunity to race."
In the circumstances, admission to the track was dropped to £5, and it paid off for punters with three favourites winning, including the Swan-ridden Why Bother, who landed quite a touch in the novice handicap hurdle.
Available at fancy prices in the betting shops on Saturday, the Stephen Ryan-trained mare was backed from 5 to 1 to 100 to 30 on course and had too much firepower for Tarasi in the closing stages.
"She's a lovely mare who's had a lot of small problems, but she's come right today," said Ryan.
The most notable exception among the favourites was Daraheen Chief in the Carey Bros Hurdle. Andrew McNamara's Ladbroke runner-up is usually waited with in his races, but he was sent straight to the front from the start yesterday and was a spent force at the turn-in, where Ajar went clear.
Proposing next month's Ladbroke for Ajar, trainer Jimmy Mangan said: "He's out of the weights, but Barry (Geraghty) said he has plenty of gears and the race would suit him." It was championship leader Geraghty's 46th winner of the season.
Doon Run got a powerful Paul Hourigan drive to just beat Hillcrest Manor in the maiden hurdle, while the reserve County Captain got in to land the handicap hurdle.
Another gamble on Coolarne Leader (25 to 1 to 10 to 1) in the bumper went astray as he faded outside the furlong pole behind Megamar, who only just held off the fast finishing Top Buck.
Middleham trainer George Moore will have his first runner in Ireland when he sends Course Doctor to Leopardstown next Monday for the very valuable Paddy Power Chase.
"We are planning to run him if all goes well this week and Jason (Callaghan) will ride him," Moore said. "He's in very good form - as fit as a flea - and we'll just keep him ticking over."
Course Doctor, who put up a fine display of jumping on his reappearance at Wetherby to beat Cumbrian Challenge by six lengths over two and a half miles off a mark of 120, will be tackling three miles for the first time in the £71,250 contest.
But Moore is confident the progressive seven-year-old will have little difficulty getting the extra distance.
