Yesterday's revelation that tomorrow's meeting at Laytown had failed a preliminary course inspection on Saturday prompted one wit to observe, "the course is under water".

Certainly the only previous occasion on which the date of Laytown, the country's last surviving strand racectrack, had to be altered arose through a miscalculation in the time of the east coast tides.

That is not the case this time and an alternative stretch is to be examined at 2.30 this afternoon to see if the once-a-year fixture can go ahead.

Meanwhile, there are no problems with racing taking place at Roscommon this evening other than a disappointing scoreline for the favourites there yesterday when only one out of seven collected.

Perhaps, however, Mr Houdini will help to extricate the punters this evening by successfully conceding weight for-age to his juniors in the Lecarrow Maiden. He gave his rivals a fair start into the straight at Leopardstown when an eye-catching third to Just Special.

Only two count in the feature Roscommon Chase, and at a difference of 6lb, Frances Crowley's Colm's Rock, who won last year's Galway Blazers Chase, can best Dante's Battle.

This has proved one of Eddie Ahern's luckiest courses and Rachael's Delight (7.30) presents him with his better chance in a card that offers only two chances for senior flat jockeys, and this, mark you, at what should be peak-season time