Naas to inspect Sunday due to threat of snow

January 04, 2025
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Sunday's Grade One card at Naas will have to pass an inspection at 7.30am on race day if it is to go ahead.

The fixture is highlighted by the Lawlor’s Of Naas Novice Hurdle, a top-level contest won by the likes of Envoi Allen and Bob Olinger in recent years, with able support from the Grade Two Racing Post Novice Chase.

Clerk Brendan Sheridan reports the course to be raceable at present despite an overnight frost, but with snow a possibility on Saturday night, he feels it prudent to assess conditions on Sunday.

He said: "The ground at Naas is currently soft and fit for racing. There is a grass frost at present but that will clear quite quickly today.

"Having spoken with Met Éireann this morning, the forecast for Saturday night into Sunday morning is for rain, sleet or snow. There is an uncertainty at present what will fall so in light of that forecast we will have a 7.30am inspection here at Naas on Sunday morning."

Meanwhile there will be a 8.00am inspection at Cork on Saturday morning ahead of the fixture scheduled to take place that day.

Following a dry day yesterday and some frost overnight, the ground at Cork is now yielding to soft.

Temperatures are to reach three to four degrees today but there is a possibility it could drop to a low of minus two degrees again tonight.

There is a Status Yellow rain and snow warning in place from 1pm tomorrow afternoon so officials will liase with Met Eireann.

Elsewhere in England, Friday's card at Musselburgh was called off in controversial circumstances after the track failed to pass a third inspection.

Following checks at 8am and 10.15am, officials took a final look at noon before a long deliberation saw the meeting eventually called off just under 10 minutes ahead of the first race, which was scheduled for 12.27pm.

Saturday’s card at Newcastle is also off with the track frozen and no prospect of sufficient improvement.

Tuesday’s meeting at Leicester is already under threat with an inspection also called for Sunday morning.

Officials will assess conditions at 7.45am as the track is reported to be waterlogged with rain or snow forecast on Saturday night.