Leopardstown hoping for thaw
General manager Tom Burke reported yesterday: “We had about an inch and a half of snow this morning and some frost, which wasn’t too serious. We only had a light dusting of snow on the track anyway and there are still bits of green coming through.
“We’re told the temperature will get up to nine degrees on Christmas Day and to nine or ten on St Stephen’s Day so I’m pretty confident we will be okay, but it is a case of wait and see and taking this on a day-to-day basis.
“The thaw could be a bit late coming, but there is no point making contingency plans at the moment. Trying to rearrange four days at a distance is a waste of time.”
If the forecast is correct, there is little doubt that Limerick will race on Sunday, the first of its four-day Christmas extravaganza.
Manager, Russell Ferris, said: “Theforecast is promising, with the thaw to start on Christmas Eve, and I am very upbeat. We will be racing on fresh ground, which hasn’t been used since July, and I have no concerns.”
Willie Mullins’ Mikael D’Haguenet figures among the 15 entries for Sunday’s Grade 1 Bord na Mona With Nature Novice Chase at Leopardstown over two miles and a furlong, but has an alternative later in the week over three miles.
Mikael D’Haguenet, of course, fell on his debut over fences in the Drinmore Chase at Fairyhouse last Wednesday when challenging eventual winner, Jessies Dream.
Mullins confirmed yesterday that among the entries he will be given at the Cheltenham Festival will be the Gold Cup.
Possible rivals for Mikael D’Haguenet, on St Stephens’ Day, are Saludos, Noble Prince and Torphichen.
The other feature on the opening afternoon is the Grade 2 Bord na Mona Fire Magic Juvenile Hurdle, with the 12 entries headed by the recent Fairyhouse scorer, Gordon Elliott’s Toner D’Oudairies. Graded races, by their nature, will always attract a small entry, but the entries for many of the other contests, both at Leopardstown and Limerick, are especially big.
The Grade 1 Paddy Power Dial-A-Bet Chase at Leopardstown on Monday promises the race of the meeting , with the champion chaser, Big Zeb, Captain Cee Bee and Golden Silver in the line-up.
Zaidpour, who created such a big impression at Fairyhouse recently, is in the other Grade 1 that day, thepaddypower.com Future Champions Novice Hurdle.
The first two days at Limerick have been well supported and the feature on Sunday is the Grade 2 Greenmount Park Chase. Among the 19 entries is Quel Esprit, so impressive on this track when making a winning debut over fences.
Meanwhile, in the wake of recent postponements, HRI yesterday moved to rescheduled three major races.
The Future Champions Bumper, which should have been run at Navan on Sunday last, now goes to Leopardstown on Wednesday, December 29.
The Grade 3 Irish Stallion Farms’Lombardstown EBF Mares Novice Chase, postponed at both Cork and Punchestown, will be run at Punchestown on Friday, December 31.
The Porterstown Handicap Chase, due to be staged at Fairyhouse and then Thurles, goes to Fairyhouse on Saturday, Jan 1. The race replaces the Dunshaughlin Handicap Chase.
* Tomorrow’s meeting at Gowran Park is postponed with the track still frozen.
