Burke hoping to end on a high Leopardstown manager Tom Burke will bring his 25-year association with the track to an end at this weekend's Red Mills Irish Champion Stakes meeting. Burke is hoping for another memorable renewal of the Group One contest with So You Think set to go off a short price for the 1m2f contest. Watering has been taking place at the Dublin venue to produce perfect ground for the meeting while two tracks will also be used to give the top-class competitors the optimum surface to race on. “This will be my last meeting after 25 years and I'm sure I'll miss it. Racing has taken over my life so there's no doubt I'll miss it,” said Burke today as he counted down to the weekend. “I'll not be a million miles way though. I've no fixed plans but I'll continue to go racing. I have a lot of friends here so I'll definitely be staying in contact." Dry weather at the Dublin venue has led to the taps being turned on and with no rain forecast for the venue until Saturday itself Burke is keeping a close eye on ground conditions. “We are using two tracks and we watered the inner one yesterday, which is currently good, good to firm in places. “The outer track was good to firm this morning so we are putting some water on that today to keep it right. “The forecast is for dry weather until Friday. There is some rain forecast for Saturday but the times are uncertain. We will reassess the ground each morning as regards further watering." The eight race card will be divided equally between the two courses with the three Group contests run on the outer track. “It's something we did four or five years ago and it worked very well. The trainers were very happy with it and so we kept it going.” The start time for the meeting has been pushed back to 3.40pm for the first time this year and Burke described it as “like a twilight meeting”. “Afternoon racing on a Saturday has proved very difficult in regards to attracting attendances. We are always open to trying something different and it's worth a try. “We would need to give it two or three years to be able to assess the difference it makes. These are the things you have to try.” Burke has seen many cracking renewals of the Irish Champion Stakes and believes this year has all the ingredients to produce another memorable race. “It's a small field but could be a very good race. A lot of people will be anxious to see how So You Think performs. “We also have Snow Fairy, who is a very good filly, and has two Oaks under her belt. Lots of years it develops into a race between two stand out horses and I think we could have another great contest this time.” Gary Carson
