Limerick will undergo a 7 a.m. precautionary inspection to see if racing can go ahead this afternoon, but even if it does get the green light, the ground is sure to ride heavy.
That didn't bother Imperial Call at Leopardstown yesterday and his young stablemate Tempo looks a similarly solid individual, who should cope with his opposition in the Aon MacDonagh Boland Novice Chase.
Fergie Sutherland has always had quite a high regard for Tempo, and like most of the horses Sutherland trains, Tempo has always been regarded as a potential steeplechaser.
Admittedly, Tempo hasn't run since early February when finishing down the field as a 2 to 5 favourite in a maiden hurdle at Clonmel. Four days previously he had been beaten by Cailin Supreme in a bumper at Leopardstown and also filled the runner-up spot before that at Gowran.
Considering the high regard in which he's held it wasn't a particularly rewarding time, but over fences Tempo should come into his own and he is taken to cope with the more proven abilities of Greenflag Princess today.
Michael Hourigan had no luck with Dorans Pride yesterday, but Zaffaran Run could ease the Patrickswell gloom by landing the Greenpark Maiden Hurdle. This one was a good bumper performer who has run creditably over hurdles so far, and the opposition doesn't look particularly strong.
On a card which has a disappointing number of runners, others to look out for are Cnocan Glas, whose Navan running behind Sunset Creek looks to give him the winning of the bumper; while Ted Walsh's Scoss can bounce back from disappointing behind Rainbow Frontier last time to beat Gaultier Gale in the opener.
Today's meeting at Haydock Park has been called off because of prolonged wet weather in the north west of England. After a morning inspection yesterday, clerk of the course Philip Arkwright said: "The meeting has been abandoned as parts of the course are waterlogged.
"We have had just over two and a quarter inches of rain in the last five dats, since December 23rd. We changed the going to heavy three days ago and it has kept piling it on since. It is still raining and is likely to go on all day."
