Gowran’s Thyestes Chase postponed
The overnight forecast was for a severe frost, to go with freezing fog, and officials have decided that pushing the meeting back 48 hours was the wisest course of action.
Speaking last evening Gowran manager, Margaret Fogarty, reported: “We’ve postponed until Saturday, given the forecast for tonight and tomorrow.
“We have a better forecast for the weekend so, hopefully, we will be able to race on Saturday.’’
Eighteen runners had been declared for the biggest event of the year at the Kilkenny track, headed by the Dessie Hughes-trained Siegemaster.
He was set to carry 11-8, after the weights had been raised by 6lbs.
Other notable inclusions were Pomme Tiepy and Whinstone Boy.
Pomme Tiepy (10-7) has long been the ante-post favourite, hinting at a return to her best when third behind Majestic Concorde in the Paddy Power at Leopardstown at Christmas.
Whinstone Boy, who won the Thyestes for Jimmy Mangan last year, was primed to attempt the double off a mark 20lbs higher.
The time of the first contest on Saturday will remain at 1.05, but fresh declarations for all of the races, including the Thyestes, will have to be made tomorrow morning.
Navan was originally due to house racing in Ireland on Saturday, but that meeting has now been transferred to next Tuesday, January 25.
