Crack hurdler Oscar Whisky was due to run at Cheltenham on Tuesday
PICTURE: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)Cheltenham cancels Tuesday meeting
TUESDAY'S meeting at Cheltenham, due to feature Oscar Whisky and herald the start of Channel 4's new racing coverage, has been abandoned.
Heavy rain left the track unraceable and officials, who planned to inspect at 3pm on Monday, took an early decision to cancel.
Channel 4, whose content will now be produced by IMG rather than Highflyer, will broadcast four races from Musselburgh with new lead presenter Clare Balding hosting a live link-up from trainer Nicky Henderson's yard.
"We've had further rain overnight and it's raining now," said clerk of the course Simon Claisse just after 9am.
"More rain is forecast so very sadly we've taken this decision. The course is waterlogged in too many places."
Oscar Whisky's Henderson-trained stablemate Captain Conan was entered in the Grade 2 novice chase on Cheltenham's card and Claisse raised the possibility of moving that to another fixture.
Speaking on At The Races, he added: "We've discussed it with the BHA and it might have a home somewhere else. We'll have more discussions today."
Tuesday's meeting was the first Cheltenham has abandoned since December 2008.
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