Irish 2,000 Guineas day in doubt as Curragh calls inspection after heavy rain

Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas day at the Curragh on Saturday is in doubt after the track was hit with 34mm of rain in 24 hours, forcing officials to call a 7.30am inspection on the day of racing.

Parts of the track are waterlogged, around the 6f and 4f poles, and further rain is forecast on Friday. Met Eireann is predicting another 5mm and the forecast is unsettled on Saturday.

Pat Keogh, chief executive at the Curragh, told the Racing Post on Friday he remains hopeful that racing will go ahead, but contingency plans are in place if the meeting falls foul of the weather.

He explained: "We think we will race and are doing everything possible to race. Discussions have taken place and, in the event of Saturday's racing being cancelled, we would look to run it on Monday."

One trainer, one jockey, one horse and one race to follow on Saturday

Keogh added: "If we lose either day the contingency plan would be to run it on Monday. The 1,000 and 2,000 Guineas will take priority, so we will have to see where we are later as there is no point getting ahead of ourselves.

"At the moment, we are hopeful that we will be able to race but the contingency plan is that Monday would be available for us if we wanted to do that. We'll know much more on Saturday morning."

A field of 12 has been declared for Ireland's first Classic of the season, including Qipco 2,000 Guineas winner Poetic Flare, who was sixth in the French equivalent at Longchamp last Sunday and is one of two runners for Jim Bolger. The trainer will also be represented by Vertem Futurity Trophy winner Mac Swiney.

The 5-2 favourite with Paddy Power is Lucky Vega, whose trainer Jessica Harrington is chasing a first victory in the race.

Haydock to race after 'brute of a day'

In Britain, Saturday's Temple Stakes meeting will take place on heavy ground at Haydock after "a brute of a day" on the eve of the meeting.

Clerk of the course Kirkland Tellwright said after racing on Friday: "The forecast is for the rain to stop this evening and then for a much better day tomorrow.

"We're going to be glad of a dry day. It's been a brute of a day today, we've had north of 20mm of rain.

"It will be heavy ground tomorrow for certain. We'll move the bends and we haven't done too much on the inner home straight today, so that won't be too bad."

York's card is headlined by the Group 3 Bronte Cup Fillies' Stakes and William Derby, clerk of the course, said on Friday afternoon: "I’ve changed the going to soft, good to soft in places. We’ve had 13 millimetres in the last 24 hours – just over half an inch – and 23mm over the last seven days.

“The forecast is for light rain during the rest of Friday, which will clear during the evening. Saturday looks mainly dry and cloudy, with the chance of passing showers.”

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