The Trainers' Association says it is "dismayed" after yesterday afternoon's controversial decision to cancel the two steeplechase races at Navan, leaving a unique fiverace card being run off today.
Racing will start at 1.30, an hour later than originally planned but it was the timing of yesterday's events that left the trainers seething.
The decision to cancel the two races was taken at approximately 3.30pm after heavy rain had drenched the racecourse.
Yet notification of the cancellation didn't reach the Trainers' Association chairman Willie Mullins, who planned to run How Ran On in the Beginners Chase, until almost 4.45.
Mullins said: "The Association has not been informed of anything until now. After the problems we had earlier with Gowran and Dundalk, we asked the Turf Club to put in a proper set of rules for racecourse management in the event of something unusual happening like this. That has obviously not happened and we are dismayed and disappointed that it has been allowed to happen again."
"Hearing about this so late is not right. Trainers have literally been left in the dark. Every trainer with a runner in those races should have been contacted individually as quickly as possible. It wouldn't have cost an arm and a leg and this whole thing has not been handled properly by the Turf Club. I've got an owner flying in from England to watch his horse run. He's probably got his flight booked at this stage."
In response, the Turf Club's spokesman Michael O'Rourke said: "The course called it late because the situation crept up on them and once we knew, our priority was getting in touch with the publishing and broadcast media who we knew were working to deadlines. However we did put the information on to Minitel, which all trainers operate, within seconds of finding out."
However Mullins argued: "The information may have been on Minitel but no trainer had cause to look at Minitel at that time. There had been nothing about a possible inspection being planned so why should they?"
Richard Lyttle, the Navan manager, commented: "At 10 a.m. the track was raceable but heavy rain from then until lunchtime meant we had to call the clerk of the course. He decided racing on the chase track would not be safe but thankfully the going is reasonably good on the hurdles course. We have five good races with the first at 1.30."
The Tote are advising punters to be careful in their selections at Navan today. The jackpot will now be on the re-scheduled second, third, fourth and fifth races but no placepot will be in operation.
In the "famous five," the local trainer Noel Meade, who has won 62 races here since 1970, should enjoy a profitable time as he looks to have excellent chances in three of the contests.
Meade's hardy old favourite Cockney Lad returns to hurdles in the featured Barry & Sandra Kelly Memorial Hurdle and, on the book, looks to have a first-rate chance of turning over the topweight Commanche Court. Cockney Lad hasn't raced since contesting a chase at Roscommon in October but he usually runs well fresh and is very effective around this track.
The nap, however, goes to Sallie's Girl in the handicap hurdle. This one is on a four-timer and absolutely danced in last time out at Punchestown. Even with 11.13, Sallie's Girl will be hard to beat.
Meade's Almira couldn't get her head in front last season but has some fine place form for the bumper while the highly promising Colonel Yeager is hard to oppose in the novices hurdle.
Bolshoi, Jack Berry's smart spinter, has had to kiss goodbye to an assault on the Grade One Spinters Stakes at Nakayama, Japan, tomorrow. The Royal Ascot winner suffered a training injury yesterday and has been ruled out of the six furlong dash.
Taiki Shuttle, the Prix Jacques le Marois hero, will be a tough nut to crack, having tasted defeat just once in a 12 race career. The 1997 winner is coming off an easy win in the Mile Open Championship (Gr 1) at Kyoto and he should prove too fleet-footed for his opponents.
Panama City, the 1997 Chester Vase winner part owned by Robert Sangster, attempts to score a repeat win in the Grade Two W L McKnight Handicap at Calder,Florida, today.
