Curragh team upbeat on ground prospects for Champions Weekend
By Racing TV
Last Updated: Tue 5 Dec 2023
Officials at the Curragh remain upbeat about the condition of the track ahead of day two of Irish Champions Weekend on Sunday.
The ground is currently soft on the straight course and yielding to soft on the round course after 12 millimetres of rain fell at the County Kildare venue overnight on Monday.
But despite that deluge and a mixed forecast for the coming days, chief executive Derek McGrath insists he has no concerns about how the track is shaping up ahead of Sunday's stellar eight-race card.
He said: "We've had another two millimetres of rain to add to what fell overnight on Monday, but the track is taking it fine. The sun has been out since and it has dried up a little.
"The course we're using hasn't been raced on since the Irish Oaks and all year we've had various trainers and jockeys telling us how lovely the ground has been.
"We only had soft ground for the first time this year three weeks ago and it's in great nick."
Order Of St George and Big Orange look set to renew rivalries in the Irish St Leger, and McGrath is hopeful some of the more high-profile entries stand their ground.
He said: "There's a lot of excitement, particularly over the Moyglare and the St Leger as they look the best they've been in years.
"The real positive of staging the meeting at this time of year is horses arrive here with questions to answer and points to prove.
"Some of the match ups look great and if we get some luck, they will all take their chances."
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