'I lost my bearings out there' - Naas forced to abandon Sunday's Grade 1 card but Lawlor's of Naas to be restaged on Friday

The Grade 1 Lawlor's of Naas Novice Hurdle, which was lost to fog on Sunday, will be restaged as part of a seven-race card on Friday.

Horse Racing Ireland said late on Sunday afternoon the Grade 1 plus the other five abandoned races from Sunday will be run on Friday, along with one additional race, which is a four-year-old and upwards handicap hurdle, rated 0-95 over two miles.

Entries for this meeting will close at noon on Monday with the Grade 1 novice hurdle reverting to the original entry stage. Fresh forfeits and supplementary entries are to be made by the same closing time on Monday.

Sunday's card was abandoned due to the worsening fog after the first race, which was barely visible from the stands.

The Lawlor's of Naas Novice Hurdle had been due to feature a showdown between two of the hottest young novice hurdles around, Firefox and Ile Atlantique.

The track was found to be raceable after a 7.30am inspection, with the only stumbling block the lingering fog, which was expected to clear and indeed did lift sufficiently for the meeting to be given the go-ahead just before 11am. However, in the half-hour before the opening mares' beginners' chase, the fog returned.

After a delay of close to 15 minutes, the stewards decided to let the opening four-runner contest commence – it was won by the Willie Mullins-trained Night And Day under Daryl Jacob. However, following deliberations between stewards, jockeys and trainers, the decision was taken to call off the remaining six races due to the thick fog.

Pockets of fog in the back straight seemed to be the main issue, and Jacob said: “I just followed the other three and I was talking to Jack Kennedy going round. It was very difficult. 

"Up here around the winner's enclosure, it's not too bad, the fog is thinner. But when you go down the back straight and where we started the first race, the fog is a lot thicker. It made visibility trickier and it was difficult to get my bearings. 

Foggy scenes at Naas, where racing was abandoned after the first contestCredit: Patrick McCann

"I think the right call has been made and in Ireland they're very good at rescheduling these meetings.”

It was a frustrating day for clerk of the course Brendan Sheridan, who said: “The fog worsened and we just feel that it's not safe. We're all of the same opinion. 

"When you go down the far side the fog is much worse and I think we've done the right thing. It's unfortunate for Naas but to keep everyone safe, it's all we can do. 

"Fog is unpredictable. I live less than a mile from here and there's no fog at all. Even the riders were happy going down to the start for the first race, but when they got there it just came down and it has worsened since. And the fact there was no wind meant that it was just sitting over us.”

Racecourse manager Eamonn McEvoy said: “If the people involved don't think it's safe you have to stop. Somebody getting hurt is the last thing we'd want. 

"It's our big day of the year and the crowd were here, so it's very unfortunate and fairly sickening. I've just spoken to Horse Racing Ireland and we hope to run the remaining six races here on Friday. 

"We'll offer everyone a free return or refund and we'll see what people want to do.”

Night And Day was cut to 20-1 (from 50) by Paddy Power for the Mrs Paddy Power Mares' Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. 

From what little could be seen from the stands or the screen, she appeared to do it readily, taking it up from her stablemate and 1-4 favourite Brandy Love between the last two fences and drawing clear to score by ten lengths.

Jacob said: “I was very happy with her. She jumped great and settled nicely, and she got me into the race very nicely. I got her to relax and breathe properly. I took it up off Brandy Love after the second-last and she galloped right to the line.”.

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