IT IS to be hoped that further frost next weekend will not interfere with next Sunday's rescheduled Leopardstown meeting which had to be called off yesterday morning as frost had got deep into the ground. The meeting arranged for Navan on Saturday was also a victim of frost but it goes ahead today an inspection of the track was arranged for 7.30 and a treble chance is on for Arthur Moore and Frank Woods.
Attempts to put on the Leopardstown meeting were called off after a second inspection yesterday morning. Officials had been out at 7.30 but two hours later they decided that temperatures would not lift by enough to take the frost out.
A spokeswoman at Leopardstown said yesterday: "The forecast here is not great midweek but we don't think it will be as bad as it could be in Britain and hopefully we will be able to race next Sunday."
Ironically racing would have been possible at Leopardstown on Saturday. The meeting was delayed by a week due to waterlogging two years ago when Jodami gained the second of his three straight victories.
The two English trained challengers for the Hennessy Cognac, Gold Cup Chase, Master Oats and Monsieur Le Cure, were left marooned yesterday and they will lodge at Leopardstown until next Sunday. Jodami was withdrawn on Friday because of coughing but his trainer Peter Beaumont said the horse will not be ready in time to re-enter a contest that now becomes eligible to entries that stood after the January 29th forfeit stage. "He wouldn't be right for next week because the medication would still be in his system. But if it was off for a fortnight he would," said Beaumont. "But he is still coughing anyway, though not quite as much as he was, and it would be a struggle. You can't rush him back into strong work."
Kim Bailey, who had sent Master Oats over with Monsieur Le Cure on Saturday, got part of the way to Heathrow airport before learning of the abandonment. "This is not the greatest situation to be in," he said yesterday. "But Master Oats will stay over there. He might as well because by the time he got back it would be Wednesday or Thursday. He won't be able to do anything while he's over there, just wait for the race and hope it goes ahead this time."
The Racing Post Chase at Kempton or the Greenalls Grand National Trial at Haydock on February 24th are now being considered for Jodami.
At Navan today Amble Speedy is taken to complete a treble for Arthur Moore in the Boardsmill Handicap Hurdle. Hampered when making a forward move in his previous run at Leopardstown Amble Speedy fairly flew when extricated before the second last but had too much to do and eventually finished a one length second behind Bohemian Castle who subsequently franked the form at Naas.
I expect Amble Speedy to confirm recent placings with Moohono and Roundwood but may find the former's stable-companion Royal Rosy a real threat. Charlie Swan's mount was an easy winner from Roundwood at Leopardstown recently and appears to be on the upgrade.
Cavalier D'Or should set the ball rolling for the Moore-Woods combination in the opening Boyerstown Maiden Hurdle and I take Professor Strong to sandwich a short-priced treble for the partnership in the Navan Handicap Chase.
The Paddy Mull ins trained Hello Monkey might win the Donore Beginners Chase. He beat Manhattan Castle in a handicap hurdle at Naas 15 months ago and could do well over fences.
The Summerhill Handicap Hurdle is open. Richard Dunwoody rides Better Style, who has not been seen since the summer but further down the scale I note Wadablast, third in a maiden hurdle at Down Royal last Wednesday and Graham Morrow's six-year-old could be improving.
