Grounds for concern: Sariska (centre), Midday (pink cap) in the Oaks

  PICTURE: Edward Whitaker  

Forecast hits Sariska and Midday's Irish Oaks bid

THE chances of Sariska and Midday running in Sunday's Darley Irish Oaks at the Curragh could be scuppered by heavy rain, connections of the Investec Oaks one-two said on Thursday.

Uncertainty surrounds likely ground conditions, with about an inch of rain forecast to hit the track on Saturday morning,

Michael Bell, trainer of favourite Sariska, and Henry Cecil, trainer of Midday, who lost out by a head at Epsom, are hoping the ground will not deteriorate significantly for their fillies, who were both supplemented at a cost of €50,000.

Michael Bel: trains Sariska

  PICTURE: Martin Lynch  

Bell: "Sariska is in fantastic condition and doesn't mind soft ground, but what I don't want is for it to become a bog, and rain cats and dogs for 24 hours. They think that is an unlikely scenario."

Cecil said: "Midday has won on good to soft, but if it was to turn heavy then we would be going into unknown territory."

Curragh manager Paul Hensey said on Thursday evening: "The ground is good to yielding on the round course and yielding in the straight. We've had a drying day and are expecting the same on Friday, but there is a high risk of rain on Saturday morning.

"We will get a more up to date forecast on Friday, but we could get about an inch of rain."

Read more in Friday's Racing Post - or click here to buy the online newspaper from 9am on Friday