News round-up The indications last night were that Ireland's new chasing star, War Of Attrition, may yet take his chance against Beef Or Salmon in tomorrow's James Nicholson Wine Merchant Champion Chase at Down Royal.
Some sustained rain at the track yesterday means that the chase course at Down Royal is now reported as "soft-heavy in places" which will not be ideal for War Of Attrition's first career start at three miles.
A total of 10mms of rain fell on the course yesterday morning as the authorities geared up for the start of the two-day festival which begins this afternoon.
"Considering the amount that fell I'm amazed at the good condition the chase course is in. But there's no getting away from the fact it is soft. We'll have no problem racing but I just wish the word heavy didn't have to appear in the description," said the Down Royal manager Michael Todd.
However, War Of Attrition's trainer Mouse Morris appeared to be relatively unfazed by the reports despite having previously said he will not risk his stable star on heavy ground. "At the minute he runs," he said of the Michael O'Leary-trained horse. "It is probably going to be very soft but you have to take a chance, don't you."
In contrast there were no going concerns for the Beef Or Salmon team as they try to repeat last year's victory in the Grade One contest. Trainer Michael Hourigan said: "I don't think the ground will interfere with my horse. War Of Attrition is a nice young horse who is coming along. If you think back to when Beef Or Salmon was six he was the one taking on the big guns but it's the other way round now."
The conditions do, however, appear to have counted out the Noel Meade outsider, Always. "He is doubtful for Saturday. The ground could be bottomless which wouldn't be ideal," said Meade who will be represented in the Killultagh Properties Chase on the same card by Watson Lake. "He loves soft ground and definitely runs," he added.
The recent spell of bad weather accounted for another meeting yesterday as the fixture scheduled for Cork on Sunday was abandoned due to waterlogging. "The inspector of courses went there in the morning and said the track was in such a bad state it couldn't recover in time," said the Turf Club's press officer Cliff Noone.
Yesterday's scheduled card at Clonmel was cancelled after the course failed a morning inspection.
Rooftop Protest put himself in line for a trip to Cheltenham's Paddy Power meeting when landing the totepool Handicap at Musselburgh for Co Tipperary trainer Tom Hogan. Backed into 11 to 10 favourite, Hogan's charge was well on top in the closing stages as Kieren Fallon drove him to a 3½-length success over Spear Thistle.
