Rain puts cards in doubt

Today’s meeting at Redcar has been abandoned due to a waterlogged track.

Officials inspected the course at 11am yesterday and were forced to call off the Flat card after substantial rain left the track unraceable.

The National Hunt cards at Fakenham, Plumpton and Chepstow today must all pass precautionary inspections if they are to go ahead.

Fakenham’s clerk of the course, David Hunter, reported the track to be fit for action yesterday but felt it best to check conditions again at 7am on raceday due to the possibility of further overnight rain.

Plumpton was fit for racing yesterday but clerk of the course Mark Cornford was anticipating overnight rain.

He said: “We’re on the edge of a Met Office weather warning for rain and could get 4mm to 6mm overnight, so we will have a look.”

Officials at Chepstow have called a further inspection for 7.30am today ahead of their meeting.

An initial assessment was made yesterday morning, with the track reported to be heavy and waterlogged in places.

Clerk of the course Keith Ottesen said: “Because it’s a nice day today, we will give it another try in the morning.

“It was dry overnight and we are forecast a mainly dry day today, with rain tonight and overnight.”