Stewards' inquiry to determine fate of Ascot card after second inspection

A stewards' inquiry is ongoing at Ascot following a second inspection of the course at 11.30am, with this afternoon's meeting to be determined by the outcome.

Following an initial check at 8am, the decision has been taken to look again with changes to the course configuration needed. The going at the course is heavy with ten millimetres of rain falling at the track since racing on Friday. There may be further showers today.

Following the first inspection, Ascot racecourse tweeted: "Racing this afternoon will be a marginal decision. However, we are doing everything we can to navigate the areas of concern, principally on the back straight, down the hill on the hurdles track.

Runners return to unsaddle after racing on FridayCredit: Edward Whitaker

"We will be looking at realignment of hurdles and a change to the rail configuration in order to create a useable racing line. The forecast for this morning is positive. However, if that were to change, the situation would very likely alter."

Clerk of the course Chris Stickels added between the first and second inspections: "There's areas of marginal ground out there that we're slightly concerned about. We are moving some hurdle rail and hurdles over to find a satisfactory racing line.

"There are areas of poached ground going down the hill towards Swinley Bottom, they're the marginal areas. We're fairly confident and will just have to see how it all goes."

The feature Grade 1 Marsh Hurdle (2.25) has been reduced to five runners, with Tobefair ruled out, though that is not due to the ground. The other non-runner on the card is Harambe in the 3.35.

Richard Hoiles: delivered his verdict on the situation at AscotCredit: Edward Whitaker

On the decision to hold a second inspection 70 minutes before the first race, Nick smith, Ascot's director of racing and public affairs, said: "The bottomline is that we are a racecourse and our primary duty is to race. As of this morning, there was and remains a possibility of racing, so our first duty is to get it on.

"Of course we have to be mindful of customers and that is why our line this morning specifically said that racing was marginal so there should be no confusion that racing is under some doubt.

"However, racing is not off and we are working towards producing a race meeting to the benefit of racegoers, a significant audience at home and the wider betting industry."

Hoiles hopeful

Experienced racecourse walker Richard Hoiles has offered a hopeful assessment of racing taking place.

The ITV commentator completed a circuit of the muddy track on Saturday morning and saw no areas of standing water, even around the Swinley Bottom area that has caused clerk of the course Chris Stickels to announce a check of the heavy track just 70 minutes before today's scheduled first race.

A shower of drizzly rain fell from 9.30am until around 9.50am but at 10.00am conditions were dry and partly cloudy.

Hoiles said: "It wasn't too bad and the amount of work that is going on suggests they are making every effort. At this stage I would be pretty hopeful and full marks go to the groundstaff. They have done an awful lot of work and there is a lot more to do.

"They are moving the two flights on the run to Swinley Bottom to the outside of the track and they're putting in a stretch of running rail that will be about five furlongs long. That is no mean feat and it should result in forcing them off the ground they raced on yesterday.

"There are a couple of spots around Swinley Bottom that are deep and then again when you turn up the hill but, overall, it was actually a bit better than I expected.

"The jockeys were happy with how the track rode yesterday and it may be that the inspection has been timed as it has so that the jockeys can inspect the course and the running lines before racing."

Racing also hangs in the balance at Thurles with fog leaving the track unfit for racing. Today's fixture is due to begin at 12.10.

There are no problems anticipated for today's other fixtures, though those attending Lingfield's all-weather card are urged to allow extra time in getting to the course.

A park and ride system is in place with flooding at the course leaving fewer parking options than normal. Further details can be found at https://www.lingfieldpark.co.uk/news/racing/important-travel-info
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Looking further ahead, Huntingdon clerk of the course Jack Pryor is confident the course's meeting next Thursday will take place as planned despite overnight flooding.

A portion of the track has been left underwater but Pryor said: "We flooded last night around the stable bend, but I'd be hopeful the water will have cleared by Monday morning and it will be a case of assessing how much damage there has been."

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