Taunton off as cold snap hits race programme
OFFICIALS at Chepstow have announced a precautionary inspection ahead of the rescheduled Coral Welsh Grand National meeting tomorrow.
The high-profile fixture was originally due to take place on December 27, but was called off due to a waterlogged track.
Two weeks on, it is the threat of frost and snow that is causing issues - and yesterday morning, clerk of the course Libby O’Flaherty called a precautionary check for 2.30pm on Friday.
She said: “We’ve called a precautionary inspection because from midday until mid-afternoon (on Friday) we’ve got snow forecast.
“We’re currently raceable. The course is completely covered and we’ve got great grass cover. There’s a little bit of leaf frost this morning, but there’s no frost in the ground.
“We could get one centimetre of snow (on Friday), we could get 10 or we could get nothing at all.
“We’re just managing expectations.”
Racing at Wincanton tomorrow afternoon is also under threat. With the course frozen in places yesterday morning, an inspection has been called for midday today.
Today’s meeting at Taunton Racecourse was abandoned shortly before lunchtime yesterday, with the course frozen and the forecast offering no prospect of sufficient improvement, while Thursday’s Ffos Las card was called off 15 minutes before the first race was due to get underway after four course inspections.
A tweet by Taunton racecourse read: “Tomorrow’s meeting has been abandoned - the ground is currently frozen with a forecast for more frost overnight and wintry showers tomorrow.
“We try again on Saturday 23rd (January).”
The cold snap is also being felt in Ireland, with yesterday’s Clonmel card abandoned and tomorrow’s meeting at Fairyhouse subject to an inspection at midday today.