THE jumps season in Ireland and Britain is struggling to reach top gear due to the prolonged dry spell, which is causing headaches for owners, trainers, racecourses and clerks of the course.

Yesterday, a novice chase at Exeter, which was due to be shown live on ITV, was reduced to a walkover because of ground conditions. At home, Thurles has already lost two fixtures due to unsuitable ground and is long odds-on to scrap another meeting next week.

All tracks staging jump racing at the moment are watering. Eddie Scally, manager at Gowran Park where racing takes place today, said: “We have never had to water for this meeting before. These are unprecedented times. Trainers have asked us to produce going which is on the easy side of good.”

Leading trainer Gavin Cromwell said the dry spell is “absolutely” affecting his running plans at the moment. “A lot of horses are waiting on a bit of rain and there is not much you can do. I wonder if some thought should be given to transferring fixtures to tracks in the west, such as Ballinrobe, Roscommon or Galway, if they have more suitable ground.”

Cromwell says he will be entering a team of horses for Cheltenham next weekend. “They had beautiful ground for the start of their October meeting, but it was lively enough by the end of the two days’ racing.”

Philip Rothwell commented: “I don’t blame anyone for current ground conditions – it’s just the weather and it’s the same for everyone. What has been frustrating me is the difference in opinion between clerks and racecourse managers on going descriptions.”

With Met Eireann forecasting drier than average conditions into December, watering at Leopardstown is ongoing ahead of their Christmas Festival.

Clerk of the course, Lorcan Wyer said yesterday: “A watering programme commenced at Leopardstown during the summer, aimed at keeping moisture in the ground. I was there on Friday morning and it is in really good shape.”

Asked about the prospects of racing going ahead at Thurles next Thursday, Wyer said: “At the moment it’s good to firm, good in places. We will probably have another look on Monday.”