Midweek rain could scupper Hewick's Irish Gold Cup bid but Leopardstown anticipating 'perfect' conditions

Leopardstown are expecting "perfect National Hunt racing" ground for this weekend's Dublin Racing Festival but the forecast showers could scupper Hewick's bid for Saturday's Irish Gold Cup,

Following 18mm of rain over the weekend the going changed from good to yielding to soft on the hurdles track and yielding on the chase course on Monday and there is a possibility of a further 7mm of rain on Tuesday.

Last season's King George winner Hewick was third on his reappearance at Punchestown before finishing second to Envoi Allen in the Grade 1 Champion Chase at Down Royal. 

He reverted to hurdles at Leopardstown over Christmas, finishing fifth behind Home By The Lee. Connections are hoping to have a tilt at the Irish Gold Cup but his participation will hinge on conditions.

Tara Lee Cogan, who is operating from Shark Hanlon's Carlow yard while he serves a suspension, said: "Hewick came out of Leopardstown well. It probably wasn't his ideal conditions but he ran well.

"The plan is to run Saturday but it's ground dependent and we want to run him at Cheltenham, so we don't want to bottom him out either. We'll have to wait and see as there's some rain forecast. We've always maintained we don't want to run him on soft or heavy ground over fences."

Hewick is a 20-1 shot to land the Irish Gold Cup, with Galopin Des Champs heading the market at 8-11 as he bids for a third successive win in the Grade 1 highlight of the weekend.

Leopardstown chief executive Tim Husbands reported that ticket sales are ahead of last year with the festival implementing a ticket-only policy for the first time.

Husbands said: "There will be pockets of rain throughout the week and there's rain forecast for Saturday night, so we think the ground will be perfect for National Hunt racing.

"Ticket sales are going well and we're very happy. They are tracking slightly ahead of last year. It's made a little bit more complicated with Ireland and England playing on the Saturday but we have really good take up so far."

Ireland's Six Nations match against England has been factored into Leopardstown's plansCredit: ©INPHO/Gary Carr

With the Ireland rugby team playing England in the Six Nations at the Aviva Stadium at 4.45pm, the track is planning to stay open until 7.30pm.

"We're airing the match on the big screen so we're creating almost a fanzone where people can enjoy the match after racing," said Husbands. "It comes nearly after the last race so the timing is perfect in that respect. 

"It will be one of the places to be on the bank holiday weekend. We have entertainment for those who aren't watching the rugby with Wolfhound playing on day one."

Husbands is expecting a large contingent of racegoers to travel across the Irish Sea. He said: "We know from the ticket sales that a significant percentage, around 30 per cent, of racegoers will be coming over from Britain. With the rugby, we'll have less British people than last year on the Saturday but more on the Sunday.

"In terms of horses travelling from Britain, we're hoping for around three with Queens Gamble, Good And Clever and Dysart Enos. They are the most likely runners at this stage."

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