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Dundalk's all-weather track takes centre-stage

RACING: AS THE weather continues to wreak havoc with racing in Ireland and Britain this weekend, action will centre on the all…

Fri Dec 03 2010 - 00:00

RACING:AS THE weather continues to wreak havoc with racing in Ireland and Britain this weekend, action will centre on the all-weather track at Dundalk.

Racing at the Co Louth track was cancelled yesterday for safety reasons, and has been rescheduled for Sunday. An additional meeting has been scheduled for Dundalk today with the first race off at an earlier time of 12.35pm due to conditions.

Punchestown’s big meeting on Sunday, featuring the Grade One John Durkan Chase, has been postponed.

The course was under two feet of snow yesterday and Horse Racing Ireland officials moved quickly to reschedule the card for next Thursday.

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Navan’s meeting, originally scheduled for tomorrow, has been cancelled due to the snow on the track and will now take place on December 19th, while yesterday’s cancelled Fairyhouse meeting is transferred to next Wednesday with the first race off at 11.45am.

Sunday’s fixture at Clonmel is also off after the track was found to be unraceable and and is rescheduled for Wednesday, December 15th. Officials made the decision to cancel the jumps card following a course inspection yesterday. The situation is also compounded by an unfavourable weather forecast.

In Britain, tomorrow’s meeting at Sandown is another high-profile casualty of the cold snap after officials made the early decision to call off the fixture.

Clerk of the course Andrew Cooper announced an inspection for 3pm yesterday to assess the prospects for the jumps card, featuring the Tingle Creek Chase. But with no chance of conditions improving sufficiently, Cooper decided to abandon. Yesterday’s meeting at Sandown was called off earlier in the day.

Cooper said: “Unfortunately it hasn’t improved and, if anything, it’s actually marginally worse as we’ve had a few snow flurries.

“We have five inches of snow on the track at the moment and that is going to stay there until Saturday at least. It’s due to warm a bit from Saturday but everyone at the course is of the opinion that it will be not enough, soon enough.”

Sandown’s loss is Cheltenham’s gain as the Tingle Creek will now be staged at Prestbury Park next Saturday, according to the executive at the Esher track.

David Mackinnon, managing director for Sandown, said: “We are devastated to have abandoned the meeting as it’s a day of fantastic racing and festive entertainment.

“However, we are delighted the Keith Prowse Hospitality Tingle Creek Chase has been rescheduled at Cheltenham.”

Irish Fixtures

DUNDALK – Tomorrow(additional meeting) – First Race: 12.35pm.

DUNDALK – Sunday(transferred from today) – First Race: 12.35pm.

FAIRYHOUSE – Wed, Dec 8th(from yesterday) – First Race 11.45am.

DUNDALK – Wed, Dec 8th(already scheduled) – First Race 6pm.

PUNCHESTOWN – Thurs, Dec 9th(from Sun, Dec 5th) – First Race 12.35pm.

DUNDALK – Friday, Dec 10th – First Race 6pm(last day of the Flat season).

CLONMEL – Wed, Dec 15th(from Sunday, Dec 5th) – First Race 12.20pm.

NAVAN – Sun, Dec 19th(from Sat, Dec 4th) – First Race 12.15pm.