Racing:Heavy rain at the Curragh this evening means the eagerly-awaited clash between Midday and Snow Fairy in the Stobart Ireland Pretty Polly Stakes will not take place tomorrow.
Connections of the latter had been concerned about the prospect of unduly soft ground for last year’s English and Irish Oaks winner.
Her trainer Ed Dunlop said on his Twitter page at around 8.45pm: “Constant rain in Ireland has meant that Snow Fairy will now not run tomorrow, great shame for everyone.”
Snow Fairy’s withdrawal leaves the Henry Cecil-trained Midday to face six rivals.
Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to Midday’s owner Khalid Abdullah, said: “She’s in good form and seems to have thrived this year. She ran well in the Coronation Cup and she’s coming back to take on her own sex again this weekend, which is nice.
“We’ll get this race out of the way before we finalise any plans, but hopefully she’ll go back to Goodwood for the Nassau Stakes.”
Aidan O’Brien’s major hope is the three-year-old Misty For Me, winner of the Irish 1,000 Guineas at the track before placing fifth in the Oaks at Epsom.
Jockey Seamie Heffernan said: “She ran well enough in the Oaks but I was a little bit disappointed. I’m not sure she really handled the track.
“She’s won a few times at the Curragh so we know she’ll like the track much better, but it’s obviously a strong race. I’m just hoping for a good run.”