Curragh call off Saturday card

SATURDAY’S meeting at the Curragh has been abandoned to ensure that Sunday’s card, which includes the Darley Irish Oaks, has every chance of going ahead.

The ground at the track is currently described as soft to heavy after substantial rain at the County Kildare venue and more is forecast.

Officials have decided to call off Saturday’s fixture in the hope of the feature event going ahead 24 hours later.

The Group Three Keeneland International Stakes and Ladbrokes Rockingham Handicap which were due to be run on Saturday will now be staged on Sunday, replacing the T.P Waters Chrysler Jeep Nursery and the Dubai Duty Free Handicap respectively.

“The decision has been made so that Sunday’s card has every chance of going ahead,” said Cliff Noone, press officer for the Turf Club.

“There has been heavy rain today and there is anything between 16 and 20 millimetres forecast for tomorrow. It is soft to heavy at the moment. It’s a common sense decision really.

“Two races have been moved from Saturday to Sunday and two of Sunday’s have been cancelled.

“It’s just to ensure that we get a day’s racing because the situation is not great weather-wise.”