Dublin Racing Festival Track Deemed Raceable After Friday Assessment
The prestigious Dublin Racing Festival has received provisional clearance to proceed this weekend, following a positive inspection of the Leopardstown racecourse on Friday afternoon. However, organisers have called for another assessment early on Saturday morning due to concerns over further rainfall forecast overnight.
Weather Woes Threaten Major Racing Fixture
Prospects for the high-profile two-day event, which is expected to attract up to 35,000 spectators, have fluctuated dramatically throughout the week. The festival serves as Ireland's primary warm-up event for the Cheltenham Festival and features star attractions including Willie Mullins-trained champions Galopin Des Champs and Lossiemouth.
The event faced significant uncertainty earlier this week when Storm Chandra dumped approximately 60mm of rain on Tuesday, leaving the track waterlogged and initially declared unraceable. Course officials managed to clear most of the standing water through intensive pumping operations and utilising local drainage systems by Tuesday evening.
Fresh Rainfall Prompts Inspection Schedule
Just as conditions appeared to be improving, Thursday brought another 22mm of precipitation, casting fresh doubt over the weekend's racing programme. The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board reported that parts of the hurdle track had become unfit for racing, with the chase track described as soft to heavy going.
Officials initially scheduled a 2.30pm inspection for Friday, but this was brought forward as conditions improved throughout the morning. Clerk of the course Paddy Graffin posted a video update at 1pm declaring a newly identified section of the hurdles track raceable.
Course Official Explains Track Assessment
"As we said this morning our hurdles track was unfit to race," Graffin explained in his update. "We've had a look at a fresh line right out beside the chase track. This line in my opinion is currently fit to race. Despite the 22mm of rain last night this line is fit to race."
He acknowledged that the selected racing line represents an unconventional approach, noting "it's a line that never would have been used in the past but it's currently fit to race." The going on the chase track remains soft to heavy, while the newly identified hurdles line is currently heavy.
Saturday Morning Inspection Planned
Despite the positive assessment, officials remain cautious about forecast rainfall of 10-20mm expected overnight. Most weather predictions suggest precipitation in the mid-teens range.
"We would like to get a bit of luck with that," Graffin commented regarding the weather forecast. "Because of that we propose to have an 8am inspection in the morning and hopefully we get a bit of luck with the weather."
The Friday assessment revealed that conditions had been "reasonably bright and dry" throughout the day, but the anticipated overnight rain has prompted the decision for Saturday's early morning inspection. Racing enthusiasts and participants will now await the 8am assessment to determine whether the festival can proceed as planned.
