Cork forced to cancel Sunday fixture after heavy flooding

Cork's seven-race jumps card on Sunday has been cancelled after significant flooding from the River Blackwater left parts of the track covered in water.

Much of the course, including the entire infield, was submerged on Thursday morning, leaving just the tops of railings visible and some fences with water as high up as the birch.

Officials were left with no choice but to cancel the fixture. Clerk of the course Val O’Connell said on Friday: "We held an inspection this morning as a result of flooding yesterday and the water has reduced in some areas.

"However, there's quite a lot of water from the last fence past the winning post, around into the back, so unfortunately we're going to have to cancel Sunday's meeting."

Cork: hopes to reschedule fixture (picture by permission of John Brennan)Credit: John Brennan (Twitter - @jvbrennan)

Horse Racing Ireland announced on Friday afternoon that Sunday's fixture will now be rescheduled for Sunday, November 22.

The meeting will close for fresh entries by 12pm on Tuesday, November 17, with declarations to run to be made by 10am on Friday, November 20. The same programme of races will be in operation.

Cork manager Andrew Hogan said: "We've had flooding previously and all being well we'd hope that things will be back to normal by next week."

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