Going updates There is a bit more cut in the ground at Down Royal ahead of Day One of their big jumps fixture. Following 6mm of overnight rain, it’s now yielding to soft, yielding in places with a damp and misty forecast for today. There is some heavy rain forecast for tonight, approximately 15mm, and then it’s to be mainly dry on Saturday with a risk of the odd shower. Racing gets under way at 12.40pm today, with the Grade 2 WKD Hurdle featuring at 1.45, and of course Samcro making his chasing debut at 2.55. Saturday’s card up North features the Ladbrokes Champion Chase (Grade 1) at 2.25. Friday evening sees racing at Dundalk, with an eight race programme beginning at 5.15. On Sunday, Cork has a seven race National Hunt card featuring the Paddy Power Cork Grand National, and the going there is now yielding, yielding to soft in places on the hurdle course, and yielding on the chase course. This follows 8mm of rain in the last 24 hours, and the forecast is for heavy rain today and tomorrow. As at the previous meeting, One Fit padded hurdles will be in use. It’s the final day of the Flat Turf season at Naas on Sunday, with the first of eight races due off at 12.20. The ground is soft after 4mm of overnight rain, and again the forecast is for heavy rain today and tomorrow.
