Weather outlook

With further rain expected this week on top of the snow last week and subsequent thaw, the going remains very heavy at all turf tracks in Britain and Ireland with waterlogging casing further problems. Today´s Irish meeting at Thurles has been abandoned and will be repeated next week. There is an inspection due at Wincanton - later: Wincanton ON!

Tomorrow´s Chepstow meeting is under threat and there could be problems for Saturday´s big meeting at Sandown; it is possible that the hurdles races will be cancelled and that there will be an all-chase card.

Southwell, closed for the past two months because of flooding, is due to reopen next weeek, but have already cancelled Monday´s N.H. fixture, as the jumps track is still under water; however there should be no problems with the all-weather course, where racing resumes on Tuesday. The good news is that there will be an extra N.H. fixture on Monday at Doncaster, to replace nearby Southwell. The card will include a listed hurdle race, so that hurdlers such as Darlan (second favourite for Cheltenham), who could be forced to miss Sandown, will be able to run here instead.