PUNCHESTOWN PREVIEW:THE ODDS appear to be against Punchestown getting a green light from this morning's 7.30 inspection and already the decision has been taken to postpone the fixture to Monday if racing cannot go ahead this afternoon.
The impact of the recent cold snap doesn't look like releasing its grip in time for racing today as the Co Kildare track was still unraceable yesterday evening due to frost.
"We were honestly hoping for more of a thaw than we've got," said the Punchestown manager Richie Galway yesterday.
"If it gets cold again overnight then that could force us to re-schedule and temperatures are forecast to get close to freezing. I'm not particularly hopeful about racing tomorrow."
The Grade Three Juvenile Hurdle is the €30,000 feature scheduled for the Punchestown card and the seven runners include the Michael O'Leary- owned Tharawaat who was a Grade One runner-up at Leopardstown on St Stephen's Day.
However, the most interesting runner could be Zaarito who has been pencilled in for a second start over flights in the two-mile maiden hurdle. A switch to Monday will not impact on Colm Murphy's former bumper star.
"If it is switched then he will still run. He might even be better off," said Murphy yesterday. "There isn't a bother on him."
Murphy also confirmed yesterday that his stable star Brave Inca will take in the Toshiba Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown later this month while Big Zeb will target the Tied Cottage Chase at Punchestown.
"Brave Inca is very well and it's all-systems-go for the Toshiba," he said.
"Big Zeb is fine and the Tied Cottage looks a suitable race for him." Big Zeb is currently a general 16 to 1 third favourite behind the reigning title-holder Master Minded for the Queen Mother Champion Chase after his Grade One winning comeback in the Paddy Power Dial-A-Bet Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas.
If Punchestown's prospects improve this morning then the Grade Three feature will be an interesting event as the always colourful Co Monaghan trainer Oliver Brady is due to run his impressive Naas scorer Ebadiyan.
The ex-John Oxx-trained four-year-old entered calculations for the Triumph Hurdle after winning by 22 lengths last weekend. Ebadiyan also gets 7lb from Tharawaat but the topweight will still be a formidable opponent especially if the ground turns testing.
Perce Rock is weighted to win the opening conditions hurdle after his Christmas victory at Limerick while some of Rare Bob's form with Trafford Lad makes him a stand out in the Beginners Chase.
