IRISH RACING Weekend previews: Some of Ireland's main Cheltenham hopes could be denied an important pre-festival racecourse work-out tomorrow but it won't be for the want of trying by the Leopardstown authorities, writes Brian O'Connor
The Co Dublin track has been left waterlogged by the recent snow and a second inspection in less than 24 hours yesterday morning found the course to be unraceable. However, there is enough hope in the weather forecast for there to be another inspection set for 9.0am and if that doesn't result in racing getting a green light, a further inspection tomorrow morning hasn't been ruled out.
"I'd hate to have to put odds on whether or not we will be able to race. We're struggling at the moment," admitted Leopardstown's racing manager Tom Burke.
"The problem is all the snow we have had recently has had to go somewhere. We had quite a lot last week but the stuff we've had this week has put the kybosh on things. But if we see any signs of improvement on Saturday morning then we could push a decision to Sunday. The forecast is reasonably okay but there is an added complication of frost expected on Saturday night," he added.
The hurdles course is in better shape than the chase track and as a result the two scheduled chase races have been moved to the end of the programme and the bumper divided in case they cannot go ahead.
"If we go ahead with no chases, there would be no schooling which could affect some of those hoping to bring horses to work after racing," Burke said. "And with the ground being very heavy anyway that could discourage those who want to work horses on the flat."
The long time Smurfit Champion Hurdle favourite Harchibald was one of those originally intended to work after racing, along with Rule Supreme, but plenty will hinge on the outcome of this morning's inspection.
If racing does go ahead there will be plenty of interest in the Ballsbridge Hurdle which sees the Pat Fahy trained Macs Flamingo possibly attempting to earn a late ticket to the Cotswolds.
The impressive Christmas scorer has Barry Geraghty in the plate again and the top jockey will be hoping Macs Flamingo races less keenly than he did when beaten at Naas in January.
If he does, the likes of Pom Flyer and Under Oath shouldn't be good enough to stop him checking out flight-times.
The Grand National hope Le Coudray is scheduled to have his first start since falling at Bechers second time round last year in the Mick Holly Chase but the Navan hurdles winner Jim could be a more likely winner tomorrow.
At Clonmel the Dessie Hughes-Paddy Flood combination can strike early with both Central Arch and Hardy Duckett but the one to keep an eye on looks to be Calorando who showed enough on his jumping debut to make him hard to beat in the maiden hurdle.
