THERE will be an 8am precautionary inspection at Fairyhouse ahead of Saturday’s Bobbyjo Chase fixture.

Brian Hamilton, IHRB clerk of the course, said on Friday afternoon: “The forecast was favourable this morning with the possibility of up to 9mm of rain prior to racing but today’s downpour was unexpected and we have now had 6mm of rain since 11am. The track remains raceable and the ground is heavy.

“With the current situation as it is, there will be a precautionary inspection tomorrow morning at 8am. The latest forecast from Met Éireann is for 6-7mm of rain prior to racing.”

The two fixtures cancelled this week at Fairyhouse (Monday) and Clonmel (Friday) due to waterlogging will not be rescheduled. A spokesperson for Horse Racing Ireland said: “As both Fairyhouse and Clonmel had already been rescheduled from previous dates, they will not be rescheduled a second time.”

Point-to-points

There will be an 8am precautionary inspection ahead of the Ward Union (S) Oldtown point-to-point in North Co Dublin today. The meeting was originally scheduled for last Sunday.

Today’s other point-to-point at Ballygogue House in Laois is expected to go ahead, but Sunday’s meeting at Lisronagh in Co Tipperary has been put back to next Saturday, February 28th.

No ground problems are anticipated on Sunday at Tinahely in Co Wicklow or at Kildorrery in Co Cork.

The Carbery fixture at Bandon on Sunday, March 1st, and the Longford meeting at Daramona House on Sunday, March 15th have both been cancelled.

Munster Final

In other fixture list news, Killarney’s National Hunt fixture on Sunday, May 10th has been swapped with the National Hunt fixture at Cork the day before, Saturday, May 9th.

This change follows confirmation that the Munster Football Final will take place on Sunday, May 10th. As the reigning All-Ireland champions, Kerry are likely to be in the final and there is a strong chance it will be played in Killarney.

Killarney Racecourse manager Karl McCay said: “Once the dates were confirmed we thought it best to be proactive and seek a swap with Cork.”

A Munster Final in Killarney on the same day as a race meeting would have had a significant impact on stable staff travelling horses, as well as on connections, other industry staff and racegoers intending to be there.

“Swapping the dates at this juncture was the easiest and most pragmatic solution, so thanks again to our friends at Cork and to the HRI Fixtures Committee for accommodating this request.”