Soft ground in Leopardstown ahead of Irish Champions Festival After a further 6mm of rain yesterday, the going at Leopardstown is soft, yielding to soft in places ahead of day one of Irish Champions Festival on Saturday. The forecast is presently dry, but further showers are expected over the coming days some of which could be thundery in nature. Around 5-10mm of rain is forecast up until the conclusion of racing on Saturday evening. The rail position is 25 yards out from the innermost Flat line. Meanwhile, Clonmel hosts an eight-race Flat-card today from 3.27pm. Lohengrin bids to defy the 7lb penalty for winning on the beach at Laytown last week when he contests the St. Patrick´s Well Handicap at 5.42pm. Joseph O'Brien's Shoda heads the market for a competitive Tipperary Perpetual Cup Handicap (6.15pm).
