Good ground and weather at Galway

The seven day Galway Festival will get underway at 5.05 this evening on good ground (good to yielding in places), with drying mild temperatures cancelled out by a persistent mist for a good part of the day.

Some watering has taken place in recent days with a total of 10mm, 5mm on Friday and a further 5mm yesterday evening, to maintain the present going.

Clerk Of The Course Lorcan Wyer, who takes over this week from the recently retired Joe Collins, expressed the desire for “safe ground” and the need for any further watering of the track will be monitored as the week progresses.

“The mist today helped to prevent the ground losing too much moisture, and we will look at the situation as the week goes on regarding any further watering,” said Wyer.

He added, "Considering the difficult spring we have had to contend with at all tracks around the country, the course here is in great shape and great praise should go to head groundsman Gerry Broderick and his team.

"There is a nice covering of grass which helps to retain moisture as well as protecting the track and acting as a cushion."

The weather is currently partly cloudy but fine (at 4.00pm), with temperatures approaching 20C.

Alan Magee