Clonmel© Photo Healy Racing
Clonmel's second-last fence has been taken out for the three chase races at today's fixture, with clerk of the course Lorcan Wyer confirming the course is trialling a reconfiguration of the steeplechase track.
The penultimate obstacle on the chase course has been the scene of fallers over many years and while it has traditionally being positioned at the bottom of a downhill run, today's meeting featured just once fence in the home straight.
Clerk of the course and ex-jockey Wyer reports “there were some days with one or two incidents at the fence, which we needed to look back on. I felt we should trial going with one fence in the home straight and to put an extra fourth one in the back straight - which retains the six fences on the round.”
“This hasn't been decided, we are very fluid and open-minded but the only way is to get feedback. We will trial it, chat with riders and trainers and see how we go.”
He added “before my time, the second-last would have varied in position and was actually closer to the road-crossing, which could become very tricky given the downhill run was so close to the fence.
“In recent years, we've managed to edge forward with the second-last's position but sometimes speed can take over. We will consider taking it out permanently but certainly aren't ruling out putting it back in. Trialling it is the only way.”
Wyer also confirmed that the removal of neighbouring Thurles' second-last fence some years ago to be a permanent arrangement.
