Punchestown has decided to cancel all its racemeetings between now and the festival in April. This decision was made because of the ongoing problems with mole drains on the track. Gowran Park is the first course to benefit; they will now stage the New Year's Eve fixture.
With the new Limerick track not yet ready to race, a number of fixtures for both racecourses were reallocated for next year. The list is as follows: Jan. 10 Thurles; Jan. 20 Down Royal; Feb. 10, 11 and 28 Fairyhouse; Mar. 17 Wexford; Mar. 18 Clonmel; Mar.19 Cork; Apr. 01 Naas.
The tragic death of George Wells shocked the racing world this week. Wells had gone into Blanchardstown hospital with what his family described as a bad cold. Last Friday evening the eighty-one year old was reported missing by hospital staff and a search of the surrounding area commenced. On Monday his body was discovered in a disused section of the hospital and a Garda enquiry has now begun to determine what exactly happened to the former jockey and trainer.
Wells, champion apprentice in Britain in 1938, arrived in Ireland during the Second World War and was an instant success. He rode the 1940 winner of the Irish 2,000 Guineas and a year later had added both the Irish Derby and 1,000 Guineas to his successes. Later as a trainer he saddled winners of both the Irish Grand National and Galway Plate.
Paul Carberry's latest stint on the sidelines is set to continue until February at the earliest. The jockey has had nothing but bad luck, his most recent injury occurring after his first ride back from a previous setback. On 27th October at Fairyhouse Carberry was approaching the first hurdle aboard Harbour Pilot when his mount slipped up causing him to break his leg.
Florida Pearl is reported to have schooled well on the Curragh prior to his intended crack at the King George VI Chase at Kempton on 26th December. Willie Mullins' star is 9/2 third favourite with most firms, though Tote bookmakers go out on a limb with their offer of 11/2.
Leopardstown's four-day Christmas festival will again be the highlight of the holiday period for most racegoers, though whether some of the high quality races come about by luck or good planning is another matter.
On the first day there is a two-mile 4-Y-O Maiden Hurdle, which this year attracted 40 entries. 32 of them are also entered in the two-mile 4-Y-O Maiden Hurdle on the second day. There is a similar situation with the first two days' 3-Y-O Hurdles. The Grade2 Denny Hurdle attracted 18 entries, while 14 of them were also included in the entries for the following day's paddypower.com Hurdle.
As luck would have it both contests on the opening day have reasonable size fields declared, but if that luck should ever run out, Leopardstown could be left with egg on its face.
Finally, on behalf of all at irish-racing.com, I would like to wish all our readers a happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year. Perhaps Softly Softly (so good they named hertwice) at Leopardstown on St. Steven's Day can go some way to fulfilling both of these wishes?
