Trainers Ready For Punchestown Walkabout Leading Irish trainers will be able to judge conditions at Punchestown for themselves today when they go on the annual course walk ahead of next week´s four-day Festival. A large party including Tom Taaffe, Noel Meade, Jessica Harrington, Willie Mullins, Colm Murphy, Paul Nolan, Francis Flood and Mick Halford will be joined by racecourse officials as well as jockeys Ruby Walsh and Conor O´Dwyer. This is the third year of the course walk and it has proved to be an overwhelming success. 'It has gone really well the first two years and we have had great feedback,' said Punchestown public relations manager Janet Williamson. 'We want to reassure trainers about the fences and the course. 'This year we have packed the fences with new birch and next week the horses will be racing on fresh ground which has not been used since September.' Yesterday the ground was described as soft following 10 millimetres of rain over the weekend. ? PA Sport
