Weather in top form as festival kicks off

Donal Hickey, Killarney

The tourist season generally gathers pace for the four day meeting with visitors and local punters joining in the annual battle with bookies.

Reduced fields are expected, however, given the exceptionally dry state of the lakeside track. “We had been watering the track, but all the watering in the world won’t make much difference when temperatures are running at 27 to 29 degrees for a number of days,” race company secretary John Looney remarked.