Punchestown preview:After an uncertain week due to the recent bad weather, the Punchestown authorities are now hopeful that a six-race programme will survive an 8.00am inspection this morning.
A similar inspection yesterday morning found the chase track to be unraceable but the maiden hurdle has been divided to make a card which will have a reduced admission cost of €10 for adults.
"We've been pumping a lot of water off the track and the hurdles course is raceable. Our problem now is an overnight frost which could see ground temperatures of minus six or seven," said the Punchestown manager, Richie Galway.
"But they are telling us the frost will be gone by noon and I would be hopeful of going ahead."
One team certainly hoping for the green light will be that of Willie Mullins and Davy Condon who look to have a red-hot favourite in the first with the Cheltenham winner Ebaziyan and also pitch Sonnium into the Grade Three Juvenile Hurdle.
Fourth to Won In The Dark in Leopardstown's Christmas Grade One, Sonnium's jumping experience could be crucial against Dermot Weld's newcomer, the Irish Derby sixth Prince Erik.
Shady Willow made a winning return to action in a Christmas bumper at Leopardstown and stands out in the second division of the maiden hurdle.
