Leopardstown inspection Officials at Leopardstown are "very hopeful" Sunday's meeting will go ahead despite calling a precautionary inspection for 8am. A week in advance of BHP Insurances Irish Champion Hurdle day, the Foxrock track is set to stage a high-class card, featuring the BoyleSports Chase and the BoyleSports Hurdle, as well as Vautour's bid to get his season back on track in the Leopardstown Killiney Novice Chase. With frost forecast for Saturday night, Leopardstown's racing and operations manager Nessa Joyce feels it is sensible to call an early-morning inspection, but is confident the fixture will beat the wintry weather. Joyce said: "The inspection is purely precautionary. We had no frost and no rain overnight and we're perfectly raceable today. "However, there was some frost inland in Ireland last night and the forecasters are predicting a heavier frost for tonight. "We're very hopeful and confident we'll be fine as we are often helped in these situations by being on the coast, but I think we should have a look just to check everything is fine in the morning. "It's an excellent card with the two big handicaps and although there are only three runners in the novice, there is clearly plenty of interest as Vautour looks to get his season back on track. "Ruby (Walsh) gets back on board and I know he's pretty bullish about his prospects."
