Dundalk manager defends Wednesday field sizes amid criticism over surface

There are just 62 runners at Dundalk on Wednesday night but racecourse manager Jim Martin has defended field sizes, stressing that they are in line with the same fixture in previous seasons.

Martin's remarks come after concerns – led by trainer Sheila Lavery – surrounding the safety of the track's Polytrack surface were raised this month.

The surface at Dundalk has come in for criticism from trainers and jockeys over the last few weeks and Martin has said the track will be relaid with either Tapeta or Polytrack.

It is a case of continuing with the current track at the moment but Martin is not concerned by the lack of runners for their latest fixture.

"The average field size for this card is 8.8," he said. "It was 9.6 for the same meeting in 2018, when the ground everywhere was heavy. The average field size was 7.6 for our meeting on April 22 in 2017 and 8.7 for April 25 in 2016. It was 8 for the same fixture in 2015."

He added: "You will always see a fall in field sizes for our races here at this time of year when the turf season has started. The track is out for tender at the moment and it will be Tapeta or Polytrack."

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