Due to the weather forecast and possibility of low temperatures again on Friday night, there will be a 8am inspection at Cork on Saturday morning ahead of the fixture scheduled for that afternoon.

Following a dry day on Thursday and some frost overnight, the ground at Cork is now yielding to soft.

Val O’Connell, IHRB clerk of the course at Cork, said: “Due to the current weather forecast we will have an 8am inspection at Cork on Saturday morning ahead of racing.

“Temperatures are to reach three to four degrees today but there is a possibility it could drop to a low of minus two degrees again tonight.

“Temperatures are then to rise throughout tomorrow morning with rain coming from 9am. There is a Status Yellow rain and snow warning in place from 1pm tomorrow afternoon so we will keep monitoring that situation and liaising with Met Éireann.

“We look like we will get 3-4mm of rain prior to racing tomorrow and the heaviest of the rain to come thereafter.”

Snow threat

Due to the possibility of snow on Saturday night into Sunday morning, there will be a 7.30am inspection at Naas on Sunday morning ahead of racing there.

Brendan Sheridan, IHRB clerk of the course at Naas, said: “The ground at Naas is currently soft and fit for racing. There is a grass frost at present but that will clear quite quickly today.

“Having spoken with Met Éireann this morning, the forecast for Saturday night into Sunday morning is for rain, sleet or snow. There is an uncertainty at present what will fall so in light of that forecast we will have a 7.30am inspection here at Naas on Sunday morning.”

The feature race on Sunday is the Grade 1 Lawlor's of Naas Novice Hurdle. Last year's corresponding fixture was cancelled after one race due to heavy fog and rescheduled for the following Friday.