"We've had a look at a fresh line of the hurdle track right out beside the chase track, Graffin said on Friday. In my opinion, this line is currently fit to race despite 22mm of rain last night. However, we do have the potential for a further 10-20mm of rain. We would like to get a bit of luck with that, but it is currently fit to race."
"Prospects for the most valuable and significant weekend of racing in the run-up to the Cheltenham festival in March remained in the balance on Friday evening after both Leopardstown and Sandown called inspections for Saturday morning due to fears of overnight rain. Leopardstown has had nearly 200mm of rain over the last two weeks ahead of the Dublin Racing Festival, which is due to stage eight Grade One races over the weekend."
"Galopin Des Champs was finally beaten in a Leopardstown chase at the eighth time of asking when only third behind Affordale Fury in the Savills Chase in December, but Willie Mullins's gelding was making his seasonal debut and will be strongly fancied to register a record-equalling fourth win in the Irish Gold Cup on Saturday. Galopin Des Champs (3.30) was also beaten first time up in 2023 and 2024 before taking a three-mile Grade One at Leopardstown on his next outing,"
Racing prospects for a major pre-Cheltenham weekend remain uncertain as Leopardstown and Sandown scheduled inspections for Saturday morning because of expected overnight rain. Leopardstown recorded nearly 200mm of rain over the last two weeks and will inspect at 8am; the clerk reported a fresh hurdle line currently raceable despite 22mm overnight and warned of a further 10–20mm risk. Sandown will hold a precautionary 7.30am inspection; both hurdle and chase courses are currently raceable after 2mm of rain and further rain is forecast. Galopin Des Champs, despite a seasonal debut third, is strongly fancied to pursue a fourth Irish Gold Cup on softer ground.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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