Rain forecast for Punchestown

Conditions at Punchestown could to be on the slow side of good for the start of the five-day Festival on Tuesday – if the forecast rain arrives.

Richie Galway, racing director at Punchestown, said: “We had two millimetres of rain at 8am yesterday so we are still calling the ground good on the chase and hurdle courses and still good to firm in places on the cross country course.

“Today’s outlook is sunshine and showers, very similar to yesterday. The forecast is not very good for tomorrow with more persistent rain and strong winds for the duration of tomorrow and into tomorrow night, possibly up to a half or three-quarters of an inch of rain.

“Thankfully due to the recent dry spell and watering, the ground is in good shape and we should be able to take it but it will probably put it on the slow side of good for Tuesday.

“After tomorrow the forecast is for a mixture of sunshine and showers. Nothing too major in the way of rain.

“We won’t have firm in our ground, I think, this week.”