Curragh forecast eases Sariska and Midday fears

RAIN is still expected to hit the Curragh on Saturday on the eve of the Darley Irish Oaks although possibly not in the quantity forecast over the past few days, which is good news for connections of Investec Oaks one-two Sariska and Midday, whose participation was threatened by the fear of testing conditions.

Earlier this week about an inch of rain was forecast for Saturday, but Curragh manager Paul Hensey said on Friday night: "We don't really know what we will get in terms of rain, but the latest we've heard from the Met Office is that we might get ten to 15 millimetres on Saturday instead of around 25 millimetres (one inch) as previously forecast.

"We had some misty rain today, but we're talking only one millimetre which has made no difference to the ground. It is still good on the round course and good to yielding in the straight."