Kempton: set to host a "jumpers' bumpers" meeting in place of turf card
PICTURE: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)Kempton hosts AW card while Bangor abandon
OSCAR WHISKY will be the headline attraction as Kempton hosts a "jumpers' bumpers" card - all-weather races framed for jumps horses - on Friday after the scheduled turf meeting fell victim to the winter weather, while Bangor have cancelled their meeting on the same day.
Kempton clerk of the course Barney Clifford revealed a frozen-in-places turf track and no imminent change in the freezing conditions meant the cancellation of the jumps races was inevitable.
"It was -1.5C overnight and we're frozen-in-places with no indication of the frost coming out," he said.
"Some light snow flurries are possible overnight and the temperature will drop away again to -3C so we were left with no choice."
Oscar Whisky, second-favourite for the Ladbrokes World Hurdle, is set to have his Cheltenham Festival prep at Kempton after the loss of the Welsh Champion Hurdle at Ffos Las forced Nicky Henderson to seek an alternative opportunity.
With 96 runners attracted by the seven-race card, Oscar Whisky's race (5.25pm) is the only single-figure field, with seven lining up in opposition against the 5-1 second-favourite after Big Buck's.
Oscar Whisky is not the only festival hope on display, with Tetlami (2.40pm) a general 16-1 shot for the William Hill Supreme Novices' Hurdle, also among the entries and 2010 Cheltenham Festival winnerPause And Clause.
Clerk of the course Clifford said: "We are delighted with how well supported the card has been. It is a testament to everyone in racing and we thank the trainers for their support.
"It has attracted a really strong group of horses across the card with Oscar Whisky the obvious star. It's brilliant we can get racing on and give these horses the opportunities to run."
Bangor, who were also due to race on Friday, abandoned their meeting after temperatures plunged to -4C overnight.
Clerk of the course Andrew Morris said: "Sadly we bowed to the inevitable. It was -4C overnight and the frost is deep into the ground.
"We're not to see temperatures above -2C until after racing so there was no prospect of racing being on."
Find out what the prospects are for forthcoming fixtures in Britain and Ireland with our at-a-glance guide
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