Newbury failed its inspection on Friday morning due to snow on the track

  PICTURE: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)  

Stellar Newbury card moved to next Friday

NEWBURY'S lost Saturday card has been rescheduled for next Friday with Channel 4 televising the first three races and free entry for racegoers.

Negotiations involving the BHA, Levy Board, racecourse and Betfair concluded all races bar the 3m novice chase on the card, which was abandoned earlier in the day due to snow on the Newbury track, will be restaged at the course in seven days.

A BHA statement read: "Following the abandonment of racing at Newbury on Saturday, the British Horseracing Authority, in conjunction with the Levy Board, has granted Newbury a replacement fixture to be staged on February, Friday 17.

"The major races lost from Saturday's card will be rescheduled, including the previously rescheduled Scilly Isles Novices' Chase (Grade 1).

The original entries for the Betfair Hurdle will stand and trainers are required to make confirmations again on Saturday with entries for all other races made by noon the same day.

In his Betfair blog, trainer Paul Nicholls said: "As long as they are all fit and well, then all the horses I was going to runat Newbury tomorrow will turn out next Friday - and that includes Zarkandar.

"I would not be overly concerned if a lot of my horses had to go straight to Cheltenham - I can get them fresh, fit and well at home - but it is a different story for horses that haven't yet run this season. So Zarkandar will run."

Coral spokesman David Stevens said: "All bets struck on the Betfair Hurdle from 10am Friday onwards (final declaration stage) willbe voided and any bets that were struck prior to that point will stand."

A revised running order and race conditions for Friday's Newbury fixture are outlined below:

12.15 The Betfair Super Saturday Steeple Chase (Grade 2) C4

12.45 The Betfair Denman Steeple Chase (Grade 2) C4

1.20 The Betfair Hurdle Race (Handicap) (Grade 3) C4

1.55 Betfair. Don't Settle For Less Novices' Hurdle Race (Class 4)

2.30 Betfair Supports Walking With The Wounded Handicap Hurdle Race (Class 2)

3.00 Betfair Novices' Steeple Chase (Registered as The Scilly Isles) (Grade 1)

3.35 Betfair Mobile For Best Prices Bumper (Listed Race)

Find out what the prospects are for forthcoming fixtures in Britain and Ireland with our at-a-glance guide