There are likely to be quite a number of people staring skywards in the Meath and Kildare areas this weekend as the Irish racing scene looks to depend totally on the weather.
Navan passed a precautionary inspection yesterday morning but faces another one at 7 a.m. today. However, despite reports on Thursday that part of the track was waterlogged, an upbeat bulletin yesterday stated: 'Given the good weather forecast, prospects for racing are considered good.'
Not surprisingly, the going at Navan is heavy and the same description is given for Sunday`s Punchestown fixture where there doesn`t appear to be any problem with racing going ahead.
Racing director Richie Galway said: 'We`re looking good at the moment. We didn`t get the expected overnight rain and it`s been dry all day today. The forecast for the next 24 hours is good, the track is perfectly raceable at the moment and we don`t envisage calling an inspection at this stage.'
Two trainers who will no doubt be staring skyward more than most today are Arthur Moore and Pat Hughes, both of whom look to have double chances at Navan.
Moore reintroduces last season`s top novice chaser Native Upmanship in the Kilsaran Fortria Chase and although the two-mile trip is clearly short of the horse`s best, the accent will still be on stamina.
That could be an area where Native Up- manship`s likely main rival Frozen Groom could fall down on and Moore reports his horse to be well forward for his first start since the Power Gold Cup in April.
Moore can also land the opener with Well Ridden, but the two Graded hurdles on the card can go to Hughes and rider Philip Carberry.
Bannow Bay is on the upgrade, and on a five-timer, in the Lismullen Hurdle, but Mantles Prince has 10lb in hand officially and that`s a fair chunk in these conditions, while it will be a surprise if the progressive Copernicus cannot take the For Auction Hurdle and so add to hisalready burgeoning reputation.
Tomorrow`s Irish Field Chase has turned into something of an exercise run for Lime- stone Lad, and even the unfamiliar terrain should present no problems to the flying novice.
The unfamiliar terrain will be the infield area where the actual racing will take place due to the continuing remedial work needed to fix the drainage work undertaken during the summer.
Potentially much more interesting will be the first jumping start of Adamant Ap- proach in the maiden hurdle. The impressive Leopardstown bumper winner was widely regarded as being Willie Mullins`s Carmelite and in the handicap hurdle on Dee-One-O-One.
