No problems at Fairyhouse in advance of big Sunday card

Fairyhouse report no problems as they build up to a top-class weekend of racing featuring three Grade Ones on Sunday.

The fixture has been badly affected by the weather in recent seasons, but general manager Peter Roe has no such concerns this week.

“The forecast is dry now all the way through to Sunday for a cracking weekend’s racing,” he said.

“The Met Office are saying it’s going to be cold but not severe.

“I think we will be just slightly below freezing at night and up to three or four degrees and we are on fresh ground which will take the frost a lot better.”

Conditions at Newbury meanwhile remain reasonably good considering the recent wet spell that has caused waterlogging and even flooding in some parts of Britain.

Clerk of the course Richard Osgood left the going unchanged as soft, heavy in places at the Berkshire track yesterday afternoon.

While drier weather is forecast for the rest of the week, he is turning his attention to protecting the course from the possibility of overnight frosts for the three-day Sportingbet Winter Festival meeting, culminating in the Hennessy Gold Cup on Saturday.

“We’re still the same – soft, heavy in places. We’ve just had some odd light showers today but it’s starting to dry. We’ve had a nice wind as well,” said Osgood.

“We’ve covered all take-offs and landings for the weekend plus a little bit down the back straight where it doesn’t see the sun that much.

“The forecast looks like we’re going to get a frost so that’s why I’ve done that.

“Apart from that, it’s all coming good. We’ve had various people walk the course today and they are all quite happy with how it is.”