RACING/CORK:THE CORK authorities plan to give their track as much time as possible to dry out ahead of tomorrow's fixture but a 3pm inspection is already set for this afternoon to see if racing can go ahead.
An inch and a half of rain fell within a 24-hour period up to yesterday morning, leaving conditions testing at the Mallow course but still raceable. However, another half inch was expected to fall by nightfall yesterday, leaving track manager Michael O’Neill keeping his fingers crossed.
“What we don’t want is ponding. If we got another inch for instance then it might take too long to get into the ground,” O’Neill said yesterday. “But we’re going to give it a lot of time, and that’s why we’re going to inspect at 3pm.
“We are raceable now but we’ll have to see what happens tomorrow. The good news is that it is supposed to be reasonably dry on Saturday.”
Willie Mullins has already been in hat-trick form this week and could repeat that at Punchestown today where the high-class Scotsirish will be a fascinating starter over the banks course.
He also runs both Raptor and Skorcher in the Beginners Chase and while Raptor has something to find with Byerley Bear on Wexford form – before the latter crashed out at the last – this track should suit the French-bred much better.
Beau Michael has been busy in recent months but has some form on testing ground and could be the solution to the conditions hurdle.
Should Cork get the green light tomorrow the star performer on view will be last season’s Hennessy winner Kempes who is due to reappear in the conditions hurdle.
A horse that started at just 9 to 1 for the Cheltenham Gold Cup has more than enough class for this but heavy ground wouldn’t be ideal and Psycho holds a fitness advantage.
