Racing: Green light for Punchestown

Punchestown racecourse has been given the go ahead to resume racing next month.

Racing at the Co Kildare course has been severely disrupted since April as parts of the course were considered unsafe.

But after Turf Club clerk of the course Joe Collins and Bill McLernon (inspector of courses) checked the track on Tuesday, they passed it fit for racing.

Punchestown's manager Richie Galway was relieved to get the green light.

He said: "There have been on-going inspections throughout the summer, the final one being on Tuesday. We got the all clear on Tuesday evening.

"Everyone here is delighted and we are all looking forward to getting back racing.

"Our next meeting is due to take place on Sunday, September 30."

Galway explained how the trouble had started.

He said: "It was caused when some drainage work was undertaken last summer and it was not a success.

"The problem was found on October 9 last year. We raced on the centre track then but we haven't raced on the main track for 12 months.

"It's given the main track a glorious opportunity to recover and improve.

"The turf has improved greatly as a result of such a break."