Ground eases at Tipperary The recent heavy downpours have caused the ground to ease at Tipperary ahead of their 'super sunday' meeting tomorrow. Manager Nessa Joyce reported today that the ground was now soft, heavy in places on the Flat course – a notable change from the yielding description at declaration. The National Hunt track was good, yielding in places on Friday morning but is now described as yielding, soft in places. The quality packed eight-race card kicks off at 2.00pm and the highlight on the level is the Group 3 Concorde Stakes. The Grade 2 Friends Of Tipperary Hurdle has attracted a classy field, including Luska Lad, Captain Cee Bee and The Real Article. A competitive field lines up for the Grade 3 Novice Hurdle on the card while First Lieutenant makes his eagerly awaited debut over fences in the Grade 3 Novice Chase. “We had significant rain yesterday and have had three-quarters of a millimetre between the night before and all day yesterday,” said Joyce “The National Hunt track is now yielding and soft in places while the Flat course is soft and heavy in places although it is soft on the home straight. “Today the weather forecast is much better. There is a chance of rain but tomorrow is to be dry. It's just overcast at the moment so it looks like maintaining the status quo. “The ground may improve a notch but at best the National Hunt track would be yielding and the Flat soft. “We have no issues like water lying and there is a brilliant covering of grass so we are not worried about any areas.” Gary Carson
