The ground is likely to ease further at Downpatrick ahead of this afternoon’s meeting following 3mm of rain overnight and more rain forecast throughout the day.

The going is currently good, good to yielding in places, at the northern venue with approximately 5-10mm of rain forecast - possibly heavy at times.

All eyes will be on Davy Russell as the former champion jockey returns after nearly a year on the sidelines having dislocated and fractured vertebrae in a fall at Limerick last October.

The Youghal native partners likely favourite The Greek in the opening Bill McIlroy Bookmaker Maiden Hurdle, and also teams up with trainer Gordon Elliott aboard The Abbey in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Beginners Chase (3.45).

The first on a seven-card at Downpatrick goes to post at 1.25pm. Racing also takes place this evening on the polytrack at Dundalk, with the first of eight races beginning at 4.40pm.

The seven-day Listowel Harvest Festival gets underway on Sunday and the going is now good to yielding (good in places) on the outside track for National Hunt races and yielding on the Flat course after 19mm of rain overnight.

The forecast is for further showers today at the North Kerry track and continuing unsettled with approximately 5-10mm of rain between now and Sunday.