TIPPERARY PREVIEW:A COUPLE of problem areas at the Tipperary track have resulted in a 2pm inspection today ahead of tomorrow's meeting, but course officials remain "hopeful" the meeting can go ahead.
A pair of Listed races, the Coolmore Hurricane Run Stakes and the Abergwaun Stakes, are due to be run, with Johnny Murtagh and Pat Smullen jetting back from Arlington to ride.
But the track was described as “unfit for racing” on Thursday, and although ground conditions were officially “yielding to soft” yesterday, an inspection goes ahead.
“Basically, 98 per cent of the course is fine, but there are two areas of false ground that meant the inspector of courses couldn’t pass us,” Tipperary manager Peter Roe said yesterday.
“It’s a drainage issue. We have put in some new drains but there are still these areas of false ground. However, we are readjusting the track and there has been a lot of drying in the last 48 hours, so I am very hopeful we will go ahead,” he added.
If racing does get the green light, then Murtagh’s decision to ride Viscount Nelson from the three Aidan O’Brien-trained runners in the Hurricane Run Stakes over an extended seven furlongs will be good enough for most people.
It could be a good day all round for the flat season’s leading rider, as Snaefell should have no trouble with soft ground and looks up to defying topweight in the Abergwaun.
Davy Russell may be the rider to follow in the first two races at Downpatrick. Better ground conditions should suit Corporate Account in the opening maiden hurdle, while Ljubjana returned to action with a promising run at Sligo last time and can go one better in the mares’ hurdle.
New guidelines on use of veterinary medicines
THE TURF Club have published guidelines for trainers in their use of veterinary medicines after some recent, high-profile doping cases, writes Brian O'Connor.
Last week two “winners” had to be disqualified due to testing positive for prohibited substances, including the champion bumper horse Dunguib, who tested positive for a wormer inadvertently given to him prior to winning at Punchestown in April.
The new guidelines are a response to such cases which the Turf Club believe could have been avoided had trainers exercised greater controls in the administration of medicines.
“The majority of prohibited substance findings are avoidable if there are proper controls in place at a trainer’s yard,” said Turf Club chief executive Denis Egan.
The guidelines include a reminder that most veterinary medicines are prohibited substances if detected on race day. They stressed trainers must take responsibility for staff and that horses receiving legitimate medication should not be stabled close to horses about to run.
