ASCOT have been forced to make a big change to their star-studded Champions Day – with more rain and Storm Babet set to hammer the course.
Downpours have meant some of the track has been given a ‘heavy’ going description.
Paul Edwards – The SunAscot has been hit with heavy rain this week – forcing a late change on Champions Day[/caption]
This means for three of the races on Champions Day they will be moved to the inner hurdles course, where the going is slightly better.
The three races affected are the Long Distance Cup, the Fillies and Mares Stakes and the blockbuster Champion Stakes.
This is just the second time the inner round course has been used since Champions Day was introduced in 2011.
It is normally reserved for hurdles races through the winter.
A statement from Ascot read: “The going on the round course is now soft, heavy in places.
“Following verification from an independent panel and agreement that this will not improve before raceday, the three round course races will switch to the inner flat course.
“This is as per the race conditions which state that in the event of ‘heavy’ appearing in the going description, the races will switch to the inner flat course.
“The going on the inner flat course is currently good to soft, soft in places.”
The change means the Group 2 Long Distance Cup, where star stayers Kyprios and Trueshan will lock horns, has been reduced by 82 yards to 1m7f 127 yards.
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And the same shortening of the race is true for the Filles and Mares, which will be run over 1m3f 133 yards.
The torrential rain has placed havoc with Friday’s fixtures.
Fakenham, Haydock and Uttoxeter have been forced to abandon their cards with parts of the tracks flooded.
Market Rasen’s Saturday meeting has already been cancelled due to a waterlogged track.
While Stratford have had to admit defeat and scrap their raceday too.
It means five fixtures over just two days have been cancelled as Britain braces for more stormy wet weather over the weekend.
One person whose spirit won’t be dampened, at least, is Frankie Dettori.
The world’s most famous jockey is bringing the curtain down on his career in the UK with a strong final book of rides at the track that made him a superstar.
Dettori, 52, will race in the US next year, although bookies make it 1-10 he’ll back at Ascot next June for the Royal meeting.
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