Fresh criticism over Dundalk surface as Lavery opts not to run her horses there

Dundalk boss Jim Martin has indicated that the track's surface is unlikely to be replaced this summer despite heavy criticism from trainer Sheila Lavery, who has opted to avoid the venue amid safety concerns for her horses.

The surface at Dundalk has not been replaced since the track opened 12 years ago and many trainers, including Lavery, have become increasingly concerned by the lack of bounce. Only 86 entries were received for Sunday's seven-race card.

Lavery, who has many all-weather horses in her care, including Danz Gift, a six-time winner at Dundalk, explained: "I'm not running my horses there any more because I've run some Dundalk specialists in recent months and they've come back stiff and sore. That tells me the track is wrong."

Lavery added: "I don't even look at the Dundalk programme any more. They say those surfaces have a lifespan of eight to ten years so it badly needs to be replaced. Look at the amount of entries this weekend, it's ridiculous."

Jim Martin: 'The hope is that we will have a new surface down by June.'Credit: Alain Barr

Martin believes the low number of entries for Sunday's Dundalk fixture compared to the 228 entries Naas has attracted for its eight-race turf fixture on Saturday is not a fair barometer with which to measure the popularity of the track among trainers given turf takes precedence at this time of year.

He said: "Once the turf starts the entries always drop off at this time of year. With regard to the surface, it's currently out to tender and they’re due to be returned to us on May 13. When the tenders come back the timescale will become obvious once we see what the suppliers say.

"What we've done, similar to every other Polytrack in the world, is to follow the manufacturer's instructions, and that's what we've done from day one. If the track requires work this summer that’ll be done."

Dundalk usually has 38 fixtures each year, but Horse Racing Ireland withheld its two 2019 summer slots to encourage the venue to complete a €3 million revamp. However, sourcing the materials could be the main stumbling block in getting the job done this year.

Martin explained: "You're talking about an awful amount of material, so the timescale will be decided by the suppliers."

Asked if the criticism of the surface was unfair, he responded: "All I can say is there's experts who've walked the track and they're happy.

"You saw Ryan Moore's quote after USS Michigan won here [on March 1] – he said it's a fast track, but it's a good track."

Chris Hayes: 'I’ve had a particularly good start to the season and, while this is annoying, we’re going to have to learn and move on from it.'Credit: Patrick McCann

However, Classic-winning jockey Chris Hayes believes there's a lack of consistency in how Dundalk has been riding recently and, like Lavery, expressed his concern over the lack of bounce in the surface.

Hayes said: "They're going to have to do something to regain the confidence of trainers and put the minds of jockeys at ease.

"There's a slight uncertainty over what you're going to get at Dundalk each week, in that it rides different from week to week. I know weather can make a difference but there's not as much bounce off the track and it's a little lifeless. Something needs to be done."

He added: "My view, and probably the view of most jockeys, is that when those all-weather surfaces are put in place they generally have a lifespan.

"We've had issues on and off over the past few years and we've gone to Brendan Sheridan, one of the best clerks of the courses around, and the remedial work was always done.

"Dundalk is like everything in that it has a lifespan and it's coming to the time of the year where work needs to be done, and I'm sure it will."

The Irish Racehorse Trainers' Association chief executive Michael Grassick echoed the views of Hayes and Lavery, and concluded that the ball was firmly in the court of the management at Dundalk.

He said: "The problems have been well documented and we've been saying it for the last few years now. The ball is in Dundalk's court and it's up to them to act. The entries this weekend are evident that the trainers prefer the option of going to grass as opposed to running at Dundalk.

"The sooner Dundalk sort it out, the better for themselves and for everybody else. We all want Dundalk to work and it's very important. The trainers need to have the confidence that their horses are not at any risk running there."

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