CURRAGH officials described the track as ‘unraceable’ on Friday with just 24 hours until the Irish 2,000 Guineas.
There will be a 7.30am inspection to see if the first Irish Classic of the season can go ahead after the course was hit by torrential rain.
Irish Flat HQ was hit by 35 millimetres of rain on Thursday – more than double the amount that was forecast.
That has left standing water on some parts of the course and, with further rain expected, the prestigious meeting now hangs in the balance.
Curragh chief Pat Keogh said: “We got lot more rain than we anticipated overnight.
“We were forecast 15 millimetres at the most in the last 24 hours, and got 35 millimetres.
“It’s come completely out of left field, unfortunately.
“The track would not be raceable today. Most of the track is raceable, but there are a few areas (that are waterlogged) and we will look to get that off the track.
“We’ll just have to monitor things as we go along. If more rain came than was forecast that would give us a problem.
“We’re hopeful, but we will have a precautionary inspection tomorrow morning.”
Poetic Flare and Lucky Vega, who were first and third in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket earlier this month, are among the top-class colts chasing the £195,000 first prize.
Saturday’s card is also due to feature three further Group races, while the Irish 1,000 Guineas and Group 1 Tattersalls Gold Cup are scheduled for Sunday.
Heavy rain resulted in morning inspections for both Friday’s jumps cards in Ireland too, at Wexford and Downpatrick.
But both those meetings are currently set to go ahead – on going which is heavy, soft in places at Wexford and yielding to soft, soft in places at Downpatrick.
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