Punchestown braced for week of heavy rain

Punchestown general manager Richie Galway is bracing himself for a week of heavy rain ahead of the opening day of the Festival.

The County Kildare track is set to host five days of top-class action as the National Hunt season draws to a close, but conditions are already described as soft, soft to heavy in places ahead of the opening card on Tuesday.

There is plenty more rain forecast over the next few days and Galway is praying the course gets the lower end of the estimated amounts.