Navan Chases Abandoned; Down Royal Inspect FOLLOWING a course inspection by Turf Club Officials at Navan earlier today, the steeplechase course was found to be unfit for racing ahead of the fixture there on Sunday, 16th March. As a consequence the Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Novice Handicap Steeplechase and the Irish Day At Navan Racecourse Beginners Steeplechase have both been abandoned. One of the remaining hurdle races will be divided to form a six race programme and the safety limit has been reduced to 20 runners in each race. The Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Novice Handicap Steeplechase will now be run at Navan on Saturday, 29th March. The Turf Club has also announced that there will be a 7.30 am precautionary inspection at Down Royal on Sunday, 16th March ahead of the fixture there on Monday, 17th March due to current ground conditions on the steeplechase course and an adverse weather forecast for Saturday. In addition the safety limit has been reduced to 16 runners in each of the four steeplechases on Monday?s programme.
