Punchestown to cover track in bid to beat the freeze

PUNCHESTOWN are covering four miles of the track, which is a first on an Irish racecourse, in a bid to beat the forecasted freezing temperatures, ahead of Sunday’s Boylesports.com Chase day.

The forecast for the Punchestown area is -4.5 for tonight and at least -3 tomorrow night. Given the harsh winters Ireland has recently endured, track covering has become something of a necessity and Punchestown has undertaken research in the area.

The method adopted for this weekend will involve the use of a strong gauge pure polythene product developed and supplied in conjunction with Bord Na Mona and Rita Shah, racehorse owner and managing director of Shabra. The product is currently used extensively throughout the country by Bord Na Mona.