Heavy Rain Could Postpone Irish Two Thousand Guineas

Tattersalls Irish Two Thousand Guineas day at the Curragh May 22 is in doubt after the track was hit with 34 millimeters of rain in 24 hours, forcing officials to call a 7:30 a.m. inspection on the day of racing.

Parts of the track are waterlogged, around the six furlong and four furlong poles, and further rain is forecast on Friday. Met Eireann is predicting another 5 millimeters and the forecast is unsettled on Saturday.

Pat Keogh, chief executive at the Curragh, told the Racing Post on Friday he remains hopeful that racing will go ahead, but contingency plans are in place if the meeting falls foul of the weather.

He explained: "We think we will race and are doing everything possible to race. Discussions have taken place and, in the event of Saturday's racing being canceled, we would look to run it on Monday."

Keogh added: "If we lose either day the contingency plan would be to run it on Monday. The One Thousand and Two Thousand Guineas will take priority, so we will have to see where we are later as there is no point getting ahead of ourselves.

"At the moment, we are hopeful that we will be able to race. We'll know much more on Saturday morning."

A field of 12 has been declared for Ireland's first Classic of the season, including Qipco Two Thousand Guineas (G1) winner Poetic Flare , who was sixth in the French equivalent at Longchamp last Sunday and is one of two runners for Jim Bolger. The trainer will also be represented by Vertem Futurity Trophy (G1) winner Mac Swiney .

The 5-2 favorite with Paddy Power is Lucky Vega , whose trainer Jessica Harrington is chasing a first victory in the race.

Haydock to Race After 'Brute of a Day'

In Britain, the May 22 Temple Stakes (G2) meeting will take place on heavy ground at Haydock after "a brute of a day" on the eve of the meeting.

Clerk of the course Kirkland Tellwright said after racing on Friday: "The forecast is for the rain to stop this evening and then for a much better day tomorrow.

"We're going to be glad of a dry day. It's been a brute of a day today; we've had north of 20 millimeters of rain.

"It will be heavy ground tomorrow for certain. We'll move the bends, and we haven't done too much on the inner home straight today, so that won't be too bad."

York's card is headlined by the Bronte Cup Fillies' Stakes (G3) and William Derby, clerk of the course, said on Friday afternoon: "I've changed the going to soft, good to soft in places. We've had 13 millimeters in the last 24 hours—just over half an inch—and 23 millimeters over the last seven days.

"The forecast is for light rain during the rest of Friday, which will clear during the evening. Saturday looks mainly dry and cloudy, with the chance of passing showers."