Chases called off at Punchestown
This afternoon’s thetote.com-sponsored Gold Cup and the other scheduled chase on the card at Punchestown have both been cancelled due to weather conditions.
The County Kildare track has been hit by a deluge of rain ahead of day two of the Festival together with strong winds.
A five-race card, comprising of three hurdle races and two bumpers, will now get under way at 4.55pm.
Punchestown's PR Manager Shona Dreaper said: "We are racing today with a five-race card, beginning at 4.55pm.
“A designated route has been planned through the enclosures to get 1,200 hospitality guests to their destinations.
“The shopping village will be closed initially, but could be opened later, and all other members of the public are going into the grandstand.”
It is thought the Punchestown Gold Cup will be rescheduled to take place on Saturday’s card, although that has yet to be finalised.
Officials later announced they would stage an 8am inspection to assess the prospects of racing going ahead on Thursday.
Saturday is now set to have an eight-race card including the rescheduled Gold Cup at 4.25pm. The Grade One contest will be reopened.
The Guinness Handicap Chase, which was also due to take place today, will also be run on Saturday, at 5pm.
After walking the course himself, leading jockey Ruby Walsh declared himself happy to ride during Wednesday’s shortened card.
“It’s gusty, but it’s grand,” he told At The Races.
“There is too much water laying in front of too many fences on the chase course.
“You would have had to omit at least three of the last four and probably two more.
“In all fairness you can’t have a Grade One steeplechase and only jump seven fences.
“The wind will make it tough, but the tougher horses will win.
“If this was the middle of December or January or February, you wouldn’t even be thinking about it. You’d just get on with it.
“The fact that it’s April, you’re thinking ’what’s all this about’, but the wind is due to die down shortly after 3pm, so we should be OK.”
