Fairyhouse racing still in doubt

Officials at Fairyhouse will take another look at 8am ahead of Saturday’s meeting after the course remained unfit for racing on Friday.

Members of the Turf Club took a look at the frost-hit surface on Friday afternoon but Peter Roe, racecourse manager of the County Meath track, said all is not lost yet ahead of the seven-race card.

"It was very frustrating but basically the temperature did not get to what we expected," Roe said.

"We'll have a look in the morning and we did not want to pull it tonight as the temperatures are due to rise.

"We are looking at it rising to 5C at around midnight with some rain, which should definitely help.

"If the forecast is right, we will be able to race."

Providing the cold snap does not beat Fairyhouse, the scene is set for a seven-race card featuring the Follow Us On Facebook Novice Chase.

While Rathlin wouldn't be one of the top performers in this division for owners Gigginstown House Stud, he still looked a smart prospect when slamming Aitmatov over course and distance last month.

Banjaxed Girl didn't get far in a Thurles Grade Three, but would be a danger if she could find the form that secured her Listed prizes for Nigel Twiston-Davies.

The Bosses Cousin was among Willie Mullins' plethora of Cheltenham entries when the novice hurdle contenders were revealed earlier this week, and the impressive Leopardstown bumper winner tackles obstacles for the first time in the Corporate Hospitality Maiden Hurdle, which gets proceedings under way at 1.30.

His stable companion Maggie Connolly attempts to atone for a Limerick blip, but the Racegoer's Package 25 Euro Hurdle is a competitive affair, with Ballysteen arriving on the back of a Grade One outing, and the returning Darwins Fox last seen in a Naas Grade Two a year ago.

Rockyaboya couldn't quite land a gamble at Thurles but is sure to have his supporters again as Mullins turns him out under a 5lb higher mark in the Tote Sports Lounge Novice Handicap Hurdle.

The champion trainer gives a belated racecourse debut to his seven-year-old Peking To Paris in the Follow Nina Carberry On Twitter (Pro/Am) INH Flat Race, although his mettle will be tested by Gordon Elliott's successful pointer Deadliest Catch.

Mark Me Up ran out a convincing winner at Down Royal earlier in the week and tries to defy a 6lb penalty in the Ian Smith Handicap Hurdle, while Lead Kindly Light defeated Yeoman and Fourth Class at Naas a fortnight ago and attempts to confirm her superiority in the Costa Coffee Dock Handicap Chase.