Tipperary, in 13 days' time, and Cork, on May 5th, have stepped in to take up the meetings lost due to the temporary closure of Limerick racecourse.The Turf Club's course inspection team has called a halt to racing at Limerick due to ground conditions at the track.

The Turf Club chief executive Denis Egan said yesterday: "It's out of commission due to the recent dry spell and the fact they have had eight days racing on winter ground since Christmas."

The A15 million racecourse, situated near Patrickswell, previously had its opening delayed by 12 months to October 2001 due to problems with the ground.

The track will now be given time to recover and a Turf Club official said Limerick should be back in action for its scheduled fixtures on June 7th and 8th.

Limerick last raced on St Patrick's Day, after which there was concern among some horse trainers about the roughness of the going.

Meanwhile, Aidan O'Brien confirmed yesterday that the 2,000 Guineas favourite, Hold That Tiger, could yet reappear in Sunday's Gladness Stakes at the Curragh.

The Ballydoyle trainer has half of the 18 entries for the race but said: "We have narrowed it down to Hold That Tiger, France, Delacroix and Marino Marini."

Likely older horse opposition for the O'Brien team will be provided by Dermot Weld's Tarry Flynn and the Park Express Stakes-winner Wrong Key.