SATURDAY'S Leopardstown card will transfer to Monday, a public holiday, if the track does not pass its 8am inspection.

The course was fit for racing on Friday afternoon but, with the possibility of 10-20mm of rain forecast for last night, there was some doubt over whether Saturday's card could go ahead as scheduled.

At around 5pm on Friday, Horse Racing Ireland announced the following contingency plan. Should the track be found to be unraceable on Saturday the meeting will transfer to Monday and original declarations will stand.

In that scenario, the meeting already scheduled for Punchestown on Monday will transfer to Wednesday. Original entries will stand with declarations to run to be made by 10am on Monday.

Standing water

On Tuesday Leopardstown was unraceable with deep standing water on the back straight. However, due to the efforts of ground staff it was able to be drained away and was drying up nicely.

Another 22mm of rain fell on Thursday and into Friday morning, though, taking the total to 193mm in the past two weeks, leaving parts of the hurdle track unfit for racing.

Officials have looked to reconfigure the hurdle track and on Friday afternoon were satisfied it was raceable – but with the possibility of a further 10-20mm of rain on Friday, an inspection has been called.

Clerk of the course Paddy Graffin said: “We’ve had a look at a fresh line of the hurdle track right out beside the chase track. In my opinion this line is currently fit to race despite the 22mm of rain last night. We’ve not used it before but it is fit to race.

“However, we do have the potential for a further 10-20mm of rain, we would like to get a bit of luck with that but it is currently fit to race.

“The going is heavy (on the hurdles track) and soft to heavy on the chase track. The rain is to move in tonight and because of that we propose an 8am inspection when we hope to have a bit of luck.”

Sandown inspection

There is also Grade 1 action due to take place at Sandown on Saturday, with Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott set to be represented through Kitzbuhel and Kala Conti respectively in the Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase.

While the course was raceable on Friday, clerk of the course Andrew Cooper has called a precautionary inspection for 7.30am with further rain forecast.

A social media post from the track said: “There will be a precautionary inspection tomorrow morning at 7.30am ahead of Virgin Bet Scilly Isles Saturday. Both the hurdle and chase courses are currently raceable.

“There was 2mm of rain on Thursday night into Friday and we are due further rain from 4pm on Friday afternoon into Saturday morning. We will provide an update on conditions at 7.30am tomorrow.”