Trainer Willie Mullins says the abnormally mild winter is having a significant impact on the sport and making it difficult for some horses to show their best form.
Speaking after Invitation Only provided Mullins with a seventh victory in the Goffs Thyestes Chase at Gowran Park, he explained to RTÉ Sport why the horse was not racing in Tramore at the weekend.
"The rain at the weekend never came. It was fast enough ground, but we skipped that and came here today. There was a bit of rain in the forecast, we got that."
He went on to explain just how the unseasonable weather is impacting the industry.
"Any farmer in the country will tell you that the cattle indoors, they are all getting sick because there isn’t enough air getting around.
"It’s extraordinary, the grass is growing in January...it’s mental, that’s what it is.
"We have had a short winter. It’s hard for those big three-mile chasers running here today. We’ve had soft ground in Limerick, Tramore and today. That’s the only description of soft ground we have had all winter.
"The grass is growing in January...it’s mental. For a trainer with one good horse who needs soft ground, it’s very hard" – Willie Mullins on the impact of a mild winter pic.twitter.com/foyhyFuENe
— RTÉ Racing (@RTEracing) January 24, 2019
"I’m lucky enough. I probably have horses that go on types of ground, but for a trainer maybe with one good horse that needs soft ground, like Presenting Percy who got a nice bit of ground, it’s very hard."
With the Leopardstown festival next week and Cheltenham on the horizon, Mullins says he will assess in due course what horses to put forward.
"These horses are not getting runs. I think I had 18 runners today. Not that I wanted to run them, but we have the ground and I said lets get them out and a run the belt."
