Limerick’s management are confident of surviving an 8am inspection today and could have the jumping scene to themselves if they get the green light.
With National Hunt action in doubt in Britain, Limerick looks like coming to jumping’s rescue with a card that sees Ruby Walsh booked for three rides.
“I think we should be okay. I’m pretty confident, if the forecast is correct and nothing untoward happens,” Limerick’s manager Russell Ferris said yesterday.
“We’re being told it will get down to minus two overnight and if that’s correct then there shouldn’t be an issue,” he added.
“But we’re having a precautionary inspection to be sure.”
There is a 7.30am inspection at Ayr today, the sole chance of cross-channel jumps action after Exeter was snowed off yesterday.
“It’s looking like there may not be any National Hunt racing apart from us so that might mean we have things to ourselves, which will be nice for a change!” Ferris joked.
Walsh is rated odds-against by bookmakers to regain the jockeys’ championship in Ireland from Davy Russell but can cut the eight-winner gap on his rival if racing goes ahead at Limerick.
His magic
Willie Mullins will hope Walsh can work some of his magic on The Paparrazi Kid, who goes in the INH Stallion Owners EBF Maiden Hurdle.
Walsh has ridden the former smart bumper performer just once before when turned over at 1 to 4 on his jumping debut at Clonmel.
Clearly talented, The Paparazzi Kid may not be entirely straight-forward and the latest of his four consecutive runner-up placings came over Christmas at Leopardstown when Anonis rallied to beat him. However, this looks an eminently winnable opportunity for him.
Walsh's former colleague in the jockeys room, Conor O'Dwyer, will hope Caballo De Marcus can end a losing run going back to last summer in the www.limerickraces.ieHandicap Hurdle.
Course and distance
Walsh is on board this time having denied Caballo De Marcus by a head on Living Next Door over the course and distance last November.
Another jockey on the double could be Bryan Cooper who teams up with his father’s Queen Of The Hill in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Maiden Hurdle and her jumping experience – this will be her seventh maiden start – may be crucial in the testing conditions.
Cooper is on Stony Grey Soil in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Beginners Chase and this one, beaten just a head at Thurles last week, can get the better of a clash with another 10-year-old, Immediate Response.
Fernhurst Lad has a 116 rating and a repeat of a Thurles third to Sweeney Tunes might be enough in the Greenmount Beginners race.
