The Punchestown authorities are "totally confident" about their April festival going ahead on the main track - but have announced a dramatic closedown until then just in case.
The Co Kildare track will not be raced on until April 24th and has passed up on the five fixtures it was supposed to host before then. That includes the New Year's Eve fixture as well as January 10th and 20th and February 10th and 11th.
An Irish Horseracing Authority fixtures meeting next week will decide about rescheduling those although Fairyhouse could be favourite to get the New Year's Eve card.
The Punchestown chief executive Charlie Murless explained yesterday: "We will not be racing to allow us a Plan B contingency plan to use the centre of the track at the festival if the main track hasn't recovered in time. But I am totally confident it will be ready. We've made great progress in the last few weeks despite all the bad weather."
Punchestown has had major problems since October 9th when a flat meeting was abandoned after just one race due to problems with new mole drains that had been installed. Holes were found at the entrance to the back straight and just after the finish line.
Since then a makeshift track in the centre of the racecourse has been used but that took a hammering during last Sunday's John Durkan Chase meeting and two inches of rain since then hasn't helped either.
Murless emphasised: "I am 100 per cent confident about the festival going ahead on the main course but in case we get weather like we did in 1998 it is best to look after the track in the middle.
"Time is the best healer of all for this problem. This decision is very regrettable but it is in the best long-term interests and it safeguards the festival."
Navan and Thurles host the two Irish cards today with the Co Tipperary track holding the most valuable race of the afternoon, the £15,000 Grade Three Stayers Novice Hurdle.
The most eye-catching runner here is Be My Royal, the former top bumper horse who has won his two hurdles starts and races in the Florida Pearl colours of Violet O'Leary.
Be My Royal was impressive when beating Trevino at Cork and although the course winner Woodenbridge Natif has a clear form chance of reversing earlier Wexford running, if there is to be a potential top notcher in the race it should be Be My Royal.
In contrast to his stable companion, Adamant Approach has had a distinctly underwhelming beginning to his hurdling career, being pulled up before the last behind Whatareyouhaving at Punchestown when long odds on. Most will be willing to write that off in the EBF Maiden.
Conor O'Dwyer is in blinding form at present and will travel south with perfectly reasonable hopes of a double on Kadouko in the novice chase and Masseuse in the Beginners Chase.
Charlie Swan will be at Navan to ride What A Native in the maiden hurdle and those who believe Bust Out to be a seriously good prospect will be looking for nothing less than a win for the Swan horse.
Barry Geraghty should have better luck with Saddlers Mark over the longer distance in the opener and the current champion also takes the mount on the Cork winner King's Valley in the handicap chase.
