'We're in the lap of the weather gods' - lack of rainfall and shortage of water for irrigation force Uttoxeter fixture switch

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Uttoxeter has become the latest course to be impacted by the summer's extremely hot and dry weather, as a shortage of water to properly irrigate the track has forced next week's meeting to be switched to Sedgefield.

The Staffordshire venue last raced on July 26 and this summer has been the hottest on record, according to the Met Office. A lack of sufficient rainfall and a shortage of irrigation water to ensure suitable ground for racing have meant its card on September 9 has been transferred.

Clerk of the course Isabelle Mangan said: "It's really unfortunate. We've had a bit of rainfall, but we just needed that bit more to change the going for us given how dry it has generally been recently."

Uttoxeter is set to stage racing again on September 15, and Mangan said: "We're just hoping that there will be some more rainfall, which it looks like there will be, but then it does look like September will dry out again. 

"We're in the lap of the weather gods at the moment. We'll keep an eye on what the weather brings before any decisions are made on that fixture, and probably by the winter months we'll want it to not be raining."

The seven-race card's entries will now shut at midday on Thursday before the 48-hour declaration stage on Monday.

Uttoxeter's plight comes as tracks in the coming weeks continue to face challenges following the high temperatures and summer drought ahead of the core jumps season beginning this autumn.

Talks took place between the BHA and courses and jumps trainers last week, which were aimed at understanding "contingency plans that are being considered"  if the dry spell continues.

The BHA also warned the weather could impact field sizes unless "substantial rainfall" arrives.

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