Punchestown 'keeping everything crossed' that racing goes ahead

Punchestown chief Richie Galway was on Saturday "keeping everything crossed" that the track passes an 8am inspection on Sunday.

The sole jumps meeting in Ireland on Saturday at Navan passed an inspection and everyone connected with Punchestown will be hoping for the same outcome with the track due to play host to Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Sizing John and two-time race winner Djakadam in the John Durkan Memorial Chase.

Galway said: "We'll just have to be patient and keep everything crossed. There's a chance that some of what's forecast might fall as rain and that's what we're hoping for, but we just won't know until the morning.

"We are obviously very keen to stage the card but if the snow arrives it could make things difficult."

Cork racecourse manager Andrew Hogan does not envisage such problems for a card set to feature the reappearance of Un De Sceaux in the Hilly Way Chase.

He said on Saturday: "We're expecting rain and there's a chance that the ground will be heavy tomorrow, but there's little or no chance of us getting snow. We don't have any reason to hold an inspection."