'Incredibly disappointing' - Peterborough Chase day cancelled after flooding

Course officials at Huntingdon were on Saturday left “incredibly disappointed” after being forced to cancel Sunday’s flagship Peterborough Chase meeting due to flooding at the Cambridgeshire track.

The Alconbury brook burst its banks at the course following 24mm of rain on Thursday and Friday, leaving areas of the home straight flooded.

Dual winner Top Notch, Fanion D’Estruval, Mister Fisher and Nuts Well were among the leading hopes in a classy nine-runner edition of the Fitzdares-sponsored Peterborough Chase, landed by Wayward Lad, One Man, Edredon Bleu, Best Mate and Al Ferof in the race’s history.

Jack Pryor, clerk of the course at Huntingdon, said: “It’s incredibly disappointing following all the hard work the whole team has put in to get spectators back but it’s one of those things that can occur at Huntingdon and there was a significant amount of rain around yesterday that led to the brook bursting its banks like it often does.

“Areas of the home straight have been flooded and it’s in and around the grandstand, although there’s been no damage to facilities."

Huntingdon was set to receive rare terrestrial coverage on Sunday with ITV4 televising the final four races on the seven-race card, which also included the Fitzdares-sponsored Listed mares’ bumper.

There will now be ten races on ITV4 with four from Punchestown, including the John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase, four from Cork, most notably Chacun Pour Soi making his return in the Kerry Group Hilly Way Chase, and two from Kelso's Borders National meeting.

Revised ITV4 Sunday schedule

1.10 Punchestown Voler La Vedette Mares Novice Hurdle (Listed)
1.25 Cork Kerry Group Hilly Way Chase (Grade 2)
1.40 Punchestown John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase (Grade 1)
1.55 Cork Kerry Group Irish EBF Mares Novice Chase (Grade 3)
2.10 Punchestown Gift A Punchestown Voucher This Christmas Handicap Hurdle
2.30 Cork Kerry Group Stayers Novice Hurdle (Grade 3)
2.45 Kelso Mrs Ivan Straker Paris Pike Novices' Chase
3.00 Cork Low Low Handicap Hurdle
3.20 Kelso Persimmon Homes Scottish Borders National Handicap Chase
3.40 Punchestown Old House, Kill NH Flat Race

Pryor said: “We’re really disappointed to be losing the ITV4 coverage as we were really looking forward to having them here on one of our flagship days.

“We’ll have a conversation with the BHA next week to see if there's any opportunity to reschedule, but at this stage we’re focusing on letting everyone know about Sunday’s cancellation.”

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