Sport

Thaw too late to save King George

RACING : LEOPARDSTOWN AUTHORITIES believe everything will have to go right with the thawing conditions if a long-awaited return…

BRIAN O'CONNOR Racing Correspondent
Mon Dec 27 2010 - 00:00

RACING: LEOPARDSTOWN AUTHORITIES believe everything will have to go right with the thawing conditions if a long-awaited return to racing action is to go ahead at the Co Dublin track tomorrow.

However, no thaw arrived in time to save Kempton’s King George VI Chase highlight. The London track failed an inspection yesterday afternoon ahead of its rescheduled date today.

The King George, and the Christmas Hurdle, have been refixed for January 15th.

It is the latest blow to a racing calendar that has been decimated over the holiday period. Limerick were also forced yesterday to call off today’s planned fixture.

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Leopardstown has already lost the first two days of its prestigious Christmas dates, and over half a foot of snow was still lying on the course yesterday evening ahead of a 7.30 inspection this morning.

However, there are signs a thaw has begun. “We need everything to go in our favour if we’re to race on Tuesday,” manager Tom Burke said. “The temperatures are due to go up to seven or eight degrees on Monday, but with the amount of snow on the track it is going to take everything in our power to go ahead.”

Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) have a series of contingency plans in place, and should racing at Leopardstown be cancelled again for tomorrow, the Paddy Power Chase, and a number of Grade Ones, are due to be moved to make a composite Wednesday card. HRI’s aim is for any emergency rearrangements to not stretch beyond Thursday, but any further disruption to the vital Christmas fixtures could yet result in a change in that policy.

“If racing isn’t a runner on the 30th, then we might have to look at things,” HRI director of racing Jason Morris said. “We are optimistic there will be racing this week, but when and where is the question.”

Limerick will hold an 8.30am inspection today ahead of tomorrow’s scheduled fixture. Today’s scheduled action has been moved to Thursday.

“I would say we are 50-50 for Tuesday,” Limerick manager Russell Ferris said. “We will give it every chance tomorrow and if there is a chance we can race we could look at it again later in the day. Temperatures are supposed to go up to nine or 10 tomorrow but the forecasts vary so much and it is so difficult to be accurate.”