The prestigious Dublin Racing Festival faces an anxious wait to determine whether Sunday's scheduled racing can proceed, following the complete abandonment of Saturday's opening day due to severe waterlogging at Leopardstown racecourse.
Track Declared Unraceable After Sustained Downpours
Clerk of the course Paddy Graffin confirmed the difficult decision to call off Saturday's highly anticipated card, which was set to feature dual Cheltenham Gold Cup champion Galopin Des Champs, after overnight rainfall rendered the track completely unsuitable for racing. This cancellation follows a week of challenging weather conditions that have tested groundstaff to their limits.
Substantial Rainfall Totals Cause Major Disruption
Official measurements reveal the scale of the precipitation problem, with the course receiving 110 millimetres (approximately 4.3 inches) of rain since Monday. A critical 17 millimetres fell within just 24 hours before Saturday's scheduled start, ultimately proving decisive in making the hurdle track unraceable.
Leopardstown's website provided a clear update on the situation, stating: "Following 17 millimetres of rain in 24 hours the hurdle track is now unraceable and today's meeting is now being transferred to Monday." The statement continued with cautious optimism about Sunday's prospects, noting the forecast predicted only 2-5 millimetres of morning rain with mainly dry conditions thereafter.
Sunday's Programme Hangs in the Balance
All attention now turns to Sunday's planned fixture, which promises a thrilling Irish Champion Hurdle showdown between Lossiemouth and Brighterdaysahead. However, this eagerly anticipated clash remains uncertain, with officials scheduling a crucial 8am inspection to assess whether conditions have improved sufficiently for racing to proceed safely.
Graffin expressed both realism and hope about the situation, acknowledging the exceptional efforts of the course team while recognising the need for favourable weather. "If we have a dry bright day today and it brought the track back to where we were yesterday, hopefully it will be okay and we can drive on, but it will need a bounce of the ball," he told the Racing Post.
Groundstaff Battle Against Elements
Photographs circulating earlier in the week vividly illustrated the challenges faced, showing significant standing water across the track as groundstaff worked tirelessly against continuing rainfall. The course team brought in additional resources throughout the week in a determined effort to prepare the surface, capitalising on Leopardstown's normally excellent drainage capabilities.
"The team at Leopardstown have done great work all week and they have brought in extra resources to give the meeting every chance, and we know how well it can drain, so hopefully they get the bit of luck they need," Graffin added, praising their commitment despite the saturated conditions.
Jockeys Quickly Adapt to Changed Circumstances
The abandonment prompted immediate adjustments from racing professionals, with leading jockeys Paul Townend and Jack Kennedy swiftly arranging travel to compete at Sandown instead. The pair are set for a compelling rivalry in the Grade One Virgin Bet Scilly Isles Novices' Chase, riding Kitzbuhel and Kala Conti respectively.
Saturday's transferred card will now take place on Monday, providing some compensation for racing enthusiasts, though all involved will be hoping Sunday's programme can proceed as originally planned following the morning inspection.
