LEOPARDSTOWN chief executive Tim Husbands has defended the state of the ground on the chase course at the track following criticism from Ruby Walsh and Davy Russell during RTÉ’s live coverage of the Christmas festival.

Speaking after Appreciate It’s win on Sunday, winning rider Paul Townend highlighted the difference in the state of the ground on the hurdles track compared to the chase track, to which Walsh and Russell raised their concerns.

“Paul mentioned it there, how much slower the hurdles course is to the chase track and that just shouldn’t be,” Walsh said. “It’s a big issue here in Leopardstown.”

Russell added: “This is the best track in Ireland and fellas are contemplating whether they can run their best horses or not over fences. It’s not right. It’s amazing how you can go 100 yards in and go from what Paul has described as testing, winter ground to dangerously quick ground.

“It’s the same thing as a slow puncture. All they’re doing is putting it off. They need to bite the bullet, they need to fix the chase course.”

The hurdles course was described as soft for all four days of the Christmas meeting, and the chase course was called yielding. Asked to respond to the remarks made by Walsh and Russell, Husbands said: “I think the proof is in the pudding. We delivered a couple of great tracks - both the chase and hurdle tracks.

“They’re probably referring to when historically there has been some dry ground in the past but I think the work that the guys did was first class.

“There was agreement between ourselves and the clerk of the course Lorcan Wyer that we’ve prepared it correctly and I think we’ve delivered.

“The chase track is just at a higher level. I understand that Leopardstown put in a new drainage system about seven or eight years ago and it’s always been that way since. One part of the track drains easier than the other.

“We always take any comments and feedback on board from any part of the industry and we’ll note what the guys say and we’re always looking to improve.”

Omitted obstacles

The issue of obstacles being omitted due to low-lying sun was also in the news during the festival. Following Chacun Pour Soi’s Grade 1 success in a race where the first and last fences were bypassed, Willie Mullins described the situation as “getting beyond ridiculous”.

A spokesperson for the IHRB explained the protocol around these decisions: “Any time an obstacle is omitted is in terms of safety, be it because of the sun or any other reason. It is unsatisfactory for everyone involved.

“The decision to bypass a hurdle or fence is ultimately made by the clerk of the course. Sometimes they make the decision independently and other times the jockeys may ask the starter to pass on their concerns to the clerk, who will then take a look. Obviously if riders have concerns then it is important to take those on board.”