Fairyhouse rearranged for Saturday
There was no possibility of the track thawing out in time and officials yesterday moved quickly to rearrange the programme.
Fairyhouse will now go ahead this coming Saturday, weather permitting, and replace the original industry meeting which was pencilled in at the course for that afternoon.
Fresh entries will have to be made by noon today. The three Grade 1’s, however, the Hatton’s Grace Hurdle, Drinmore Chase and Royal Bond Novice Hurdle, will revert to the original entries and fresh forfeits-supplementary entries will also have to be made by noon today.
Likewise, snow has put paid to Punchestown on Thursday and that card has been rescheduled for next Tuesday, December 14.
The principal race at Punchestown is the Grade 1 John Durkan Memorial Chase and this will revert to the original entries, with fresh forfeits-supplementary entries to be made by noon on Thursday. Fresh entries for the other races will close at noon on Thursday.
Cork was due to hold a meeting next Tuesday, but to accommodate Punchestown that has been moved to the day before, Monday.
Dundalk races tomorrow, Wednesday, and, with the cancellation of Fairyhouse, the time of the first contest has been brought forward from 6.30 to 2.30.
Meanwhile, there are just two meetings remaining in the flat season, at Dundalk on tomorrow and Friday night.
Pat Smullen is certain to be crowned champion jockey again, but the apprentice title is the focus of much attention, with a three-way tussle between Gary Carroll, Ben Curtis and Joseph O’Brien.
Carroll and Curtis are locked together on 39 winners, with O’Brien clearly facing an uphill battle, four adrift.
William Hill are betting on the outcome and offer: Evens Carroll and Curtis, 8-1 O’Brien.
