Lorcan Wyer© Photo Healy Racing
The going is yielding on both the hurdle and chase tracks at Leopardstown ahead of this weekend’s Dublin Racing Festival which features eight Grade 1 races over Saturday and Sunday.
Leopardstown Clerk of the Course Lorcan Wyer reports the track in good shape despite a prolonged spell of dry weather with extensive watering having taken place over the past month.
Wyer said, “The going is yielding on both tracks. The forecast is for a possible 3mm of rain tonight and dry on Friday. There is also the possibility of another 5mm of rain in the early hours of Sunday morning.
“The fence positions are the same as they were at Christmas. The rail alignment on the chase track is a slightly wider line and that is reflected in the advertised distances this weekend. It’s a slightly longer chase track.
“The two hurdle lines are in the mid-section of the track, and we have a strong five yards of fresh ground for day two.
“Watering is ongoing as January has been such a dry month everywhere. We’ve had a total of just 3 to 4mm in total in January.
“Watering commenced on January 10 and it has been a three days a week process putting plenty on and has left us with yielding ground ahead of the weekend.”