Southwell 'hopeful' but call morning inspection for Sunday jumps fixture

The combination of heavy ground and forecast rain has forced officials at Southwell to call an 8am inspection on Sunday before the track's seven-race jumps card.

Clerk of the course Paul Barker is hopeful racing will still go ahead but has warned the meeting will be under threat should up to 10mm fall on the already sodden ground.

Speaking on Saturday morning, Barker said: "We are heavy but currently raceable. The forecast has changed from showers to us possibly getting between 5mm and 10mm in the next 24 hours.

"If we got the 10mm it would be a bit of a challenge, hence why we are calling the precautionary inspection. The ground will take a fair bit more."

Paul Barker: clerk of the course at SouthwellCredit: David Carr

Winter conditions have caused havoc at many jumps tracks in the last month with Exeter, Doncaster and Leicester all losing cards due to waterlogged ground.

Barker added: "We've had over an inch of rain this week already. This area of the country has had a lot of rain and this is not the time of year for ground to be drying out quickly."

Carlisle is the only other meeting in Britain scheduled for Sunday. The current going is soft, heavy in places on the hurdles course and heavy, soft in places on the chase course.

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