'We'll need a bit of luck' - Newbury's final Flat fixture of the season under threat due to wet forecast

Newbury’s final Flat fixture of the season is under threat for the second successive year with clerk of the course George Hill saying the track will “need a bit of luck” with a wet forecast.

The two-day meeting, which is scheduled to begin on Friday, was lost last year due to waterlogging and the track is already heavy with a GoingStick reading of 3.0.

“It’s heavy ground and we’ll need a bit of luck,” Hill said on Tuesday morning. “We’re unfortunately forecast a bit of rain on Friday, the morning of raceday, which isn’t great and there may be some showers on Saturday.”

The Saturday of the same meeting in 2019 was also abandoned due to waterlogging and Hill added: “It’s not ideal this time of year when the weather starts turning and we’ve had a lot more rain in September and October than we did previously.

“We’ve had nearly 240 millimetres in six weeks so it all just takes its hold. It’s big numbers even compared to last year.

“It’s been a busy season on the track. We’ve had 17 racedays on it since April, its had a lot of horses on it, although its had a bit of a break since September.”

The Horris Hill Stakes on Saturday’s card at the Berkshire venue was moved to Newmarket in 2019 and last year. The St Simon Stakes was also staged at Newmarket last year.

Hill's attention will switch to the jumps after the weekend, with the track's first meeting of the season in that code taking place early next month.

Hill added: “We start jumping here on November 7 and the track is in good condition.

“It’s probably appreciating all this rain we’ve had and the track is looking well. We’ve got Coral Gold Cup weekend at the end of November that we’re looking forward to.”

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