Leopardstown staff have high hopes for track

Leopardstown officials are optimistic they have escaped the worst of the rain ahead of their four-day Christmas festival, which starts on St Stephen's Day.

The Dublin track got off relatively lightly on Friday as a forecast deluge failed to materialise.

Conditions are now expected to improve heading into next week.

Nessa Joyce, Leopardstown racing and operations manager, said on Saturday morning: "We only had seven millimetres of rain overnight, which we are very happy with as there was a lot more forecast.

"We are likely to be soft at this stage.

"That was the worst day in terms of rainfall.

"Sunday should be decent, and we might even see a slight improvement. Although there is rain hanging around, Monday and Tuesday should be fine, with no threat of frost."