Storm Ciara sparks fears for racing with 80mph winds forecast

Racing is bracing itself for what is being predicted to be the most intense storm to hit Britain and Ireland in the last seven years.

Storm Ciara is forecast to wreck havoc with winds reaching up to 80mph starting from 6pm on Saturday and lasting until midnight on Sunday.

Exeter has announced an 8am inspection on Sunday ahead of racing later in the day with a yellow weather warning for the area issued by the Met Office on Friday.

On Saturday morning, four runners from Ireland – three for Gordon Elliott and the Paul Nolan-trained Discorama – were declared non-runners due to travel.

Clerk of the course Daniel Cooper said: "The localised forecast that we have received on Friday morning points towards strong gusts of 60mph winds.

"There is a possibility we will have an issue on raceday. If the forecast predicted is as we find on Sunday morning, there will be issues we have to deal with.

"We have to leave the decision until Sunday on that basis. A precautionary inspection just means we're going to take a look, not just at the racetrack but at the wider picture, such as the public areas, the horsebox park, the grandstand and general site safety."

There are a number of high-profile horses entered at Exeter on Sunday, including Master Debonair, Magic Of Light, Reserve Tank and Master Tommytucker, with two Listed races and a Class 3 novice chase on the seven-race card.

The most severe amber warning is for London and the south-east of England on Sunday, with the possibility of damage to buildings, disrupted travel and power cuts.

The prospects for Lingfield's jumps meeting on Tuesday look bleak with an inspection called for 11am on Sunday.

Southwell and Punchestown are the other two meetings on Sunday. Plumpton, in East Sussex, races on Monday.

Fears that fixtures could be lost to the weather have prompted an extra all-weather meeting to be scheduled for Chelmsford on Tuesday.

The fixture will be a six-race card starting at 1.35pm with the ability to divide to eight races if required.

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