Tramore to inspect ahead of New Year's Day fixture with 20mm of rain possible before racing

Tramore's New Year's Day card will face an 8am inspection due to forecast rain. 

The track is currently raceable with the going description reading soft on the chase course and soft, soft to heavy in places on the hurdle track. However, a significant amount of rain is forecast, which is giving officials cause for concern.

The fixture is due to include the seasonal reappearance of the 2021 Gold Cup winner Minella Indo in the feature Grade 3 New Year's Day Chase (2.15), in which Monty's Star, Classic Getaway, Cappodanno and Appreciate It will also compete.

"Due to the current forecast, which is predicting up to 20mm of rain, there will be an 8am precautionary inspection tomorrow morning," clerk of the course Val O'Connell said. 

"There has been no rain at the track since declarations yesterday and it remains dry at present but Met Eireann are giving us the possibility of up to 20mm of rain from later today up until 8am tomorrow morning, so on that basis we felt it was right to have a precautionary inspection.

"It is to be a mainly dry and breezy day once the rain passes tomorrow morning."

Minella Indo won the New Year's Day Chase in 2023, while the dual Gold Cup hero Al Boum Photo landed the contest in the four years between 2019 and 2022. 

Monty's Star, who finished second to Fact To File and Spillane's Tower in Grade 1 novice chases on his last two runs, is a best-priced 20-1 shot for the Gold Cup in March.

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