Dry and warm weather playing havoc with Irish jumps season as Gordon Elliott warns of 'huge backlog' of horses waiting to run
An unprecedented dry spell featuring record temperatures has left Irish trainers and racecourses facing a similarly challenging situation to their counterparts in Britain, with Gordon Elliott warning the weather is creating a backlog of runners.
It has been an exceptionally dry start to November in Ireland, following little rain in the second half of October, triggering a flood of non-runners including 22 no-shows across the cards at Gowran Park and Naas last weekend.
Thurles, the spiritual home of midweek jump racing in Ireland, has yet to stage a National Hunt card this season after three of ITS fixtures were lost because of quick ground. The fixture scheduled for Thursday is the latest to be abandoned after failing an inspection on Monday morning.
Read the full story
Read award-winning journalism from the best writers in racing, with exclusive news, interviews, columns, investigations, stable tours and subscriber-only emails.
Subscribe to unlock
- Racing Post digital newspaper (worth over £100 per month)
- Award-winning journalism from the best writers in racing
- Expert tips from the likes of Tom Segal and Paul Kealy
- Replays and results analysis from all UK and Irish racecourses
- Form study tools including the Pro Card and Horse Tracker
- Extensive archive of statistics covering horses, trainers, jockeys, owners, pedigree and sales data
Already a subscriber?Log in
Published on inIreland
Last updated
- Warwick and Thurles given go-ahead for jumps meetings after frost-free night
- The Racing Post sponsors new Grade 2 two-mile novice chase at Naas in January
- Spillane's Tower set to take his place in star-studded John Durkan at Punchestown on Sunday
- 'I couldn't be happier with him' - Shark Hanlon gives green light for King George hero Hewick to enter Betfair Chase fray
- Could Willie Mullins win the Betfair Chase with his first runner? The lowdown on 8-1 shot Capodanno
- Warwick and Thurles given go-ahead for jumps meetings after frost-free night
- The Racing Post sponsors new Grade 2 two-mile novice chase at Naas in January
- Spillane's Tower set to take his place in star-studded John Durkan at Punchestown on Sunday
- 'I couldn't be happier with him' - Shark Hanlon gives green light for King George hero Hewick to enter Betfair Chase fray
- Could Willie Mullins win the Betfair Chase with his first runner? The lowdown on 8-1 shot Capodanno