RACING:DUNDALK LOOKS like flying Irish racing's flag on its own for much of the coming week as Fairyhouse's authorities describe themselves as being "very pessimistic" about their chances of the twice-postponed winter festival card going ahead on Wednesday.

Punchestown’s Grade One John Durkan Memorial Card, moved to Thursday due to the snow, is also in doubt with a postponement to next week already being considered.

“There is six inches of snow here and it is very slow to thaw. I think we will be very lucky to race on Thursday. The ground isn’t frozen underneath but it is thawing very slowly,” said the Punchestown manager Richie Galway yesterday.

“We are discussing the possibility of moving to early next week but that could mean a clash with Cork and the HRI awards so we will have to see,” he added.

A decision on another postponement for Fairyhouse’s prestigious triple Grade One fixture could be made as early as today with snow remaining on the track and severe frosts forecast for at least the next three nights.

“The snow is still here and we will have a look at it on Monday. We could have an announcement to make then but at the moment we would be very pessimistic about Wednesday,” the Fairyhouse manager Peter Roe said yesterday.

Fairyhouse is due to race anyway next Saturday and an option could be to replace that intended card with the winter festival races.

Dundalk will bring the 2010 Irish flat season to a close on Friday and are also due to race on Wednesday.