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Michael Graham

Michael Graham

Going reports

Sun 6th Apr 2014, 11:27

Layla Joan, rightLayla Joan, right
© Photo Healy Racing

At a dry and breezy Fairyhouse the going is Soft after 2.5mm of rain since Friday morning. Today's new meeting came about through reducing the Easter festival from three days to two. The track hosts eight races this afternoon.

The high-quality card, featuring five Graded contests, gets under way at 2.10pm. The Grade 1 mares novice hurdle championship final at 3.15 has seen Gordon Elliot's triple-hurdle winner Layla Joan shorten in the market from 7/2 to 11/4 this morning. Gambling Girl is a notable absentee in this race, leaving eight horses scheduled to go to post.

In Cork, where there is an eight race flat card commencing at 1.55pm, the ground is Heavy following 7mm of rain overnight. The forecast remains unsettled with rain expected. Due to ground conditions there will be no stalls in operation for the final race today. Maarek heads the betting for the Listed Cork Stakes where the crack sprinter faces nine rivals over six furlongs. He is new trainer Evanna McCutcheon's first runner.

About Michael Graham
Michael has worked in horse racing journalism for more than 15 years, having also written a weekly betting column on Gaelic football and hurling for a newspaper. He is involved in writing the My Racing Story features on this website. He spent a year in South Africa completing a Diploma in Business Administration and also studied Newspaper Journalism in Belfast. He enjoys playing 5-a-side football on a regular basis.