Irish raiders set to star if Carlisle escapes overnight threat of frost

Although wind and snow were the main enemies ahead of Saturday's racing in Britain, Sunday's cards at Carlisle and Leicester must both pass 8am inspections as frost threatens to take a grip.

Carlisle is scheduled to host some intriguing visitors from Ireland, with the Willie Mullins-trained Elimay the headline act in the Listed Houghton Mares' Chase (1.45), while Dreal Deal is scheduled to face the likes of Cornerstone Lad and Adrimel in an intriguing novice chase (12.45) an hour earlier.

Clerk of the course Kirkland Tellwright reported the course had escaped the worst of the storm damage, but plunging temperatures still meant the fixture was in the balance.

"There's a certain amount of wind damage, to the extent that the frost covers were struggling to stay in place, but it's limited to that and the trees and stands are fine," said Tellwright.

"But the issue at Carlisle is the forecast frost tonight. I wouldn't like to predict what are prospects are.

"They’re forecasting -3C locally, so the risk is that the frost pocket down by the first fence in the back straight will be appreciably colder than that. Honestly, it’s anybody’s guess."

With the wind due to subside on Saturday afternoon Tellwright expects the frost sheets to be back in place before the temperature begins to fall.

On the track Brian Hughes will be on Elimay, who faces Annie Mc and two other rivals in the £33,000 on what will be her first outing since winning at the Fairyhouse Easter meeting in April.

"We might have found a nice opportunity for her with the ground certain to be testing," said Mullins. "Her form is strong and this is a nice place to start out her season."

Dreal Deal: led in after winning the Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle at PunchestownCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Ronan McNally is well known for the way he likes to mix up distances and disciplines with his horses and Dreal Deal will add chasing to his CV when facing five rivals in the Bet At racingtv.com Novices' Chase (12.45).

Dreal Deal garnered something of a cult following – as well as the attention of the regulator in Ireland – when rattling off a series of wins over timber and on the Flat, a run which culminated in victory in the Grade 2 Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle at Punchestown in February.

The streak came to an end when he was well beaten behind My Drogo at Aintree in April.

The campaigning of Cornerstone Lad has been almost as enterprising since his win in the Fighting Fifth two seasons ago, trainer Micky Hammond mixing runs on the Flat with those over both hurdles and fences.

"The softer the ground the better for him," said Hammond. "We've been very pleased with his three runs over fences and although he's got a touch of 'seconditis,' it's only a matter of time before he wins.

"We were pleased with his run at Wetherby where he jumped well and was giving away a tidy amount of weight, given the very capable Jack Andrews took five [pounds] off the winner. Hopefully, we can go one better."

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