NH 2010-2011: Weather Watch

Ireland...

Punchestown confirmed postponed till Thursday next which would make for two cracking midweek afternoons.

Dundalk's postponement based on concerns over travel.
 
Update...

Chepstow and Navan confirmed lost on Saturday. Navan not likely to reschedule as the Irish fixture backlog builds up.

Clonmel still looking possible for Sunday.

Looking at the forecast, it's hard to know how much the weather is going to improve and how quickly.
 

SUMMARY OF UPCOMING FIXTURES:-

  • Dundalk – Saturday 4th December (additional meeting) – First Race 12.35pm (pls note change to earlier time due to conditions, 8 race card, last race 4.05pm).
  • Dundalk – Sunday 5th December (transferred from Friday 3rd December) – First Race 12.35 pm (pls note change to earlier time due to conditions, 8 race card, last race 4.05pm).
  • Clonmel – Sunday 5th December (has now been called off in the last few minutes. No details on their reschedule yet).
  • Fairyhouse – Wednesday 8th December (transferred from Thursday 2nd December) – First Race 11.45pm.
  • Dundalk – Wednesday 8th December (already scheduled) – First Race 6pm.
  • Punchestown – Thursday 9th December (transferred from Sunday 5th December) – First Race 12.35pm.
  • Dundalk – Friday 10th December (already scheduled) – first race 6pm (last day of the Flat season).
  • Navan – Sunday 19th December (transferred from Saturday 4th December) – first race 12.15pm.
 
stodge said:
Punchestown confirmed postponed till Thursday next which would make for two cracking midweek afternoons.
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I still think that could be optimistic!! It's snowing again in Dublin. There is 2 feet of snow in Leopardstown and presume the ground is still frozen underneath from the first dose we got before the snow. It would want to start thawing on Monday to give Wednesday any chance. Although they are saying there is a chance of warmer weather next week.
 
Update...

Disappointing to see Clonmel fall but interesting that Exeter think they might be raceable on Sunday. The weather is far from certain this weekend even at this stage and any warm-up might be very limited.

Nonetheless, plaudits for giving it a try.

On matters Irish, at what point will it be too late to re-stage the December meetings before they run into Leopardstown's Christmas meeting.

I can't see Sandown being fit on Saturday afternoon but Andrew Cooper knows his course better than I.
 
Would be better to move the Sandown card to Exeter on Sunday IMO. Then if need be move it to Cheltenham next weekend (well the Winter Novices Hurdle, Henry VIII and Tingle Creek)
 
Racing Post this afternoon:

THE Grade 1 Tingle Creek Chase has been moved to Cheltenham on Saturday week following the abandonment of the scheduled running at Sandown this weekend.

Saturday's Tingle Creek card was cancelled following a 3pm inspection on Thursday and officials moved quickly to make alternative arrangements for the feature race, which is sponsored by Keith Prowse Hospitality.
 
Sam Twiston-Davies will be happy about that as this means he will be available to ride Little Josh who is in the form of his life.

I'm happy for him, but gutted to lose a whole day at Sandown and seeing the old rougue Twist Magic back at his favourite place. He hates Cheltenham ........
 
stodge said:
On matters Irish, at what point will it be too late to re-stage the December meetings before they run into Leopardstown's Christmas meeting.
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It depends. For the fit horses three weeks should be fine. For the horses having their first run of the season or who have missed work due to the weather then they would prob need longer to recover. You must also remember that when this snow melts the tracks will be waterlogged!! And if it freezes then, we are goosed for another week!

I'd say they need to hold the Fairyhouse graded meeting by the end of next week or it creates a dilution of other graded races at Crimbo.
 
Update...

Add Bangor on Monday and Sedgefield on Tuesday to the casualties. More worrying, Lingfield, having passed their 6am inspection, have abandoned today's card.

No word on inspections for Exeter and Warwick on Sunday at this time and Fontwell on Tuesday looks the next best prospect.
 
Lingfield Thoughts...

This late abandonment looks awful for Neil MacKenzie-Ross. IF the track is unsuitable, that would be curious as Neil was telling ATR yesterday how the track was fine in -13c conditions in january.

If it's local travel conditions, then Neil should be aware that the standing advice from Surrey Police is not to travel unless absolutely necessary and with the best will in the world, a race meeting isn't that important. Add to that no rail service and it seems curious that while the immediate track area might be clear, getting to the course was going to prove very difficult.
 
Lingfield Update...

I've seen Neil Mackenzie-Ross's interview with Gina on ATR and Neil looked utterly defeated and despondent. Clearly he had not anticipated or expected what happened.

When an AW meeting is lost due to non-surface factors (fog, high winds, problems with access) all the Clerk can do is shrug and accept it but surface-related problems are more difficult.

Both Wolverhampton and Lingfield have had problems with ice balls forming in the surface of the Polytrack at temperatures which, while very low, should not be causing a problem. IF we are now discovering that the Polytrack surface is having problems dealing with snow or if the methodology used to clear the snow is somehow faulty, that is a more serious issue for the tracks.
 
Huge thaw on the South Coast last night - Fontwell have cancelled their inspection for Tuesday so looks like we'll have racing then, Exeter also sound hopeful of racing tomorrow.
 
Cheltenham temperatures slightly higher this morning. Sun to about 12.30ish and nearly all snow gone (we didn't have much, about 1"), then light rain. Ground still pretty solid in places, though.

Probably colder on the course due to exposure to wind.
 
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