Honeysuckle will bid to repeat last year's victory in the Hatton's Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse on Sunday© Photo Healy Racing
Clerk of the course Brendan Sheridan reported this morning that that the ground at Fairyhouse is soft ahead of their big weekend of racing on Saturday and Sunday.
The weather forecast predicts 6-8mm of rain to hit the Co.Meath venue tomorrow with a largely dry outlook thereafter.
Before then, Punchestown has a seven-race card tomorrow, including an opening contest over the banks course, with a 12.30pm start and the likelihood of testing ground.
Racing returns to Thurles on Thursday after the high-profile clash of Presenting Percy, Kemboy and Monalee at the venue last week.
It’s interesting to note that the second-last fence has been repositioned to a point approximately three and a half furlongs from the finish.
A tricky obstacle to get right as horses race downhill to it off the final bend, that second-last claimed beginners’ chase favourite Lord Royal last week and its re-siting will mean two fences on the run across to the home straight and just one fence to be jumped in the straight itself.
The ground is soft after 5mm of rain since entries were received and a further 5-10mm (approx.) of rain is forecast tomorrow.
It’s then set to be mainly dry, with a chance of frost on Wednesday night and temperatures could be slow to rise on race day.
