SUNDAY’S fixtures at Cork and the Curragh should survive if the weather forecasts for this weekend prove reasonably accurate.

It’s been a tough week for the sport, with both Wexford and Down Royal losing two-day meetings due to waterlogging.

The Curragh is due to stage the final flat turf meeting of the season on Sunday and admission is free. The ground was described on Friday as heavy, soft to heavy in places. Met Éireann says there could be up to 10mm of rain prior to racing. Clerk of the course Brendan Sheridan said: “We should be okay if we only get what’s forecast but you can never be sure how the ground will take it, and forecasts are not always right these days. What I can say is that the ground is perfectly raceable now and we’re hopeful.”

Cork manager Eoghan O’Grady is very optimistic about his track’s prospects. “It’s soft at the moment and, even though there is a possibility of between 6mm and 8mm of rain to come, I have no concerns. The track has taken all the recent rain very well. We only got 2mm from Storm Ciarán and a further 2mm on Thursday night. We missed the heavy stuff.”

Saturday’s Charlie Hall card at Wetherby is subject to a 7am inspection. The track cancelled racing on Friday.

Rain during the week has seen river levels rise markedly at the West Yorkshire venue, leading to pressure on the track’s drainage system and leaving standing water in places.

On Friday afternoon clerk of the course Jonjo Sanderson said: “I honestly couldn’t tell you what our chances are as it’s just a waiting and watching game. As we stand at the minute the water on the track is still there. The dykes are receding moderately and it’s just a question of what comes first – the inspection and the time of the racing meeting or the clearing of the track.”

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