Leopardstown and Curragh hoping rain stays away

Vadeni, Luxembourg, Mishriff and Homeless Songs are among the big names declared for Saturday's opening card on €3.9 million Longines Irish Champions Weekend but officials at Leopardstown and the Curragh are hoping the weather eases after heavy rain at both courses.

Vadeni and Mishriff, first and second in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown in July, featured among a final field of seven for the €1m Irish Champion Stakes.

One-time Derby favourite Luxembourg and the Grand Prix de Paris hero Onesto stood their ground, while Tattersalls Gold Cup winner Alenquer and the Ballydoyle pair of Stone Age and Broome complete the high-class line-up.

Homeless Songs, not seen since her devastating Irish 1,000 Guineas triumph, will return in the Group 1 Coolmore America ‘Justify’ Matron Stakes, in which her ten rivals will include Duke of Cambridge and Prix Rothschild winner Saffron Beach.

Tower Of London and Auguste Rodin, joint-favourites for next year’s Derby, will clash in the Group 2 KPMG Champions Juvenile Stakes, with Ryan Moore opting to ride impressive Naas winner Auguste Rodin.

Heavy rain this week has already seen 100mm fall in the Dublin area and there might still be more to come. The Curragh had been hit with 56mm by Thursday afternoon, changing the official going to good to yielding, yielding in places on the straight course, and good on the round course.

Chief executive Brian Kavanagh is hoping the worst of it misses the Kildare venue before the Irish St Leger-headlined card on Sunday.

He said: "We needed the rain we got and we're glad we got it, but we wouldn't mind if that was the end of it now. We've got plenty of rain and some of the further showers could be heavy. There's a threat of heavy rainfall for Sunday itself, which isn't ideal and that could ease the ground further."

Curragh CEO Brian Kavanagh: hoping the rain can stay awayCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

He added: "We're racing on the stands' side track, which we haven't used since June so the ground should be pretty safe. It dries out pretty well."

The ground at Leopardstown has eased to yielding and the forecast remains unsettled for the area.

Clerk of the course Lorcan Wyer said: "We can say for sure that we will have slow ground, but we're not entirely sure how slow. That will depend on what happens on Thursday night and Friday. The forecast is not clear but Saturday looks to be a good day weather-wise, which will be good for people coming racing."

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