Henderson goes it alone as weather takes a heavy toll on Lambourn Open Day

The scale of Good Friday's Peter O'Sullevan Open Day at Lambourn has been drastically reduced after heavy rain rendered all car parks bar Nicky Henderson's unusable.

None of the Lambourn yards will be open apart from Henderson's Seven Barrows base, where it is business as usual with Altior, Buveur D’Air, Might Bite, My Tent Or Yours and Bobs Worth parading every hour from 9am.

Visitors to the yard, which has its own car parking, will be able to see plenty of other stars and potential stars, as well as Nico de Boinville, who is set to be in attendance all morning, and Sir Anthony McCoy, who will be there from 11am. The yard will be open from 8.30am to 1pm.

Afternoon activities were abandoned earlier this week, as were plans to open several key stables in Upper Lambourn, but until Wednesday morning organisers were still hoping the yards of Charlie Hills, William Muir and Owen Burrows would be open. However, further heavy rain put paid to that.

Charlie Hills: trains Bartholomeu DiasCredit: Edward Whitaker

Mark Smyly, chairman of the open day committee, said: "We are down to one now, just Nicky. He's already got tracking down for the parking so people can get home safely. He'll open and has all the facilities laid on, but unfortunately the others have come to the decision they can't, given the continual downpours.

"All of Nicky's main horses will be there, and AP is flying in as well. We apologise for any inconvenience, but do please come and support us."

Nigel Payne of the Peter O’Sullevan Trust added: "Naturally we're saddened by this turn of events but the weather in no way dampens our enthusiasm and commitment to the day. Neither would it ever have dampened Peter’s."

The weather has also claimed Saturday's Newton Abbot card, which was abandoned on Wednesday morning due to waterlogging.

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