Navan programme postponed due to waterlogged course

11mms of overnight rain plus more forecast right up until race time leads to the decision

The Navan card featuring the Grade 2 BetVictor Boyne Hurdle will now take place on Tuesday. Photograph: Morgan Treacy/Inpho
The Navan card featuring the Grade 2 BetVictor Boyne Hurdle will now take place on Tuesday. Photograph: Morgan Treacy/Inpho

The Navan card featuring the Grade 2 BetVictor Boyne Hurdle will now take place on Tuesday.

The programme scheduled for Sunday had to be called off in the morning due to parts of the course being waterlogged.

“We’ve had 11mms of rain overnight and further rain forecast right up to race time.

"We're waterlogged in the back straight. We've tried considering a few options, taking out hurdles and whatever, but with further rain forecast we felt we had no alternative and unfortunately we've had to cancel," reported clerk of the course, Paddy Graffin.

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Original declarations for the eight race card made on Friday will stand.

The Dundalk card scheduled for last Friday but cancelled due to Storm Eunice goes ahead on Monday.

Jessica Harrington's highly rated Barbados makes his debut on the all-weather circuit but an official 106 flat rating looks to make him the one to beat in a conditions event.

Race-fitness won't be an issue either as Barbados was third to Adamantly Chosen in a hurdle race at Thurles earlier this month.

Fourth in that race was the Noel Meade trained Bugs Moran and appeals against the 'Non Trier' penalties handed out on the back of that run will be heard on Tuesday.

Meade was fined €2,000 while jockey Sean Flanagan was suspended for 10 race-days.

Bugs Moran was also banned from racing for 42 days.

Brian O'Connor

Brian O'Connor

Brian O'Connor is the racing correspondent of The Irish Times. He also writes the Tipping Point column