Saturday's jumps fixtures at Warwick, Kempton and Wetherby are under threat from a combination of snow, freezing temperatures and waterlogging, racecourse officials have warned. The bleak outlook follows a week of widespread cancellations across the country, with three meetings already shelved and four inspections scheduled for Wednesday to determine the fate of cards at Taunton, Newbury, Doncaster and Huntingdon.
At Warwick, clerk of the course Nessie Chanter reported that a burst brook flooded the back straight, though water has receded. However, parts of the course remain waterlogged and sub-zero temperatures are forecast, with lows of -4C on Wednesday night and -3C on Thursday and Friday nights. The Classic Chase is the feature race.
Kempton's Silviniaco Conti Chase is also in doubt after flooding around the lake bend. Clerk Barney Clifford noted that while standing water has largely dispersed, forecast snow and overnight frosts of -3C to -4C pose a significant threat. The network ITV Racing, which is due to broadcast from all three tracks, was left with no racing to show last weekend after Sandown and Wincanton were called off.
The most precarious situation is at Wetherby, which remains under snow with little thaw. Clerk Jonjo Sanderson gave a blunt assessment: “Course still covered in snow, but also extensively flooded and frozen! Internal dykes have burst their banks, so the back straight is mostly under water.”
With further cold weather expected, the prospects for Saturday's racing look slim. Clerks of course will continue to monitor conditions and conduct inspections in the coming days.
