Leopardstown all set for racing
This afternoon’s rearranged meeting at Leopardstown will go ahead after the course passed a morning inspection.
The card, featuring the Tattersalls Millions Irish Champion Stakes, was supposed to take place yesterday but torrential rain put paid to those hopes.
However, a contingency plan was put in place by officials and a dry night has seen the course improve dramatically.
“They were supposed to inspect at 7.30am but it has dried up so much they looked earlier,” said Cliff Noone of the Irish Turf Club.
“Unbelievably the ground is yielding, yielding to soft in places and it is a lovely morning here.
“From lunchtime onwards yesterday it was dry and warm and if it stays like this everything will be hunky dory.
“There is still no news on whether Duke Of Marmalade will run or not though but the ground can only improve if it stays like this for another few hours.”
However, news filtered through from the track at around 9.30am that Aidan O’Brien had pulled his five-time Group One winner out of a second clash with New Approach.
“Unfortunately Duke Of Marmalade is a non-runner,” said Leopardstown’s general manager Tom Burke.
“But a least we are racing which is the main thing.”
