More field size disappointment with only 48 runners at Haydock on Saturday

Haydock's Grand National Trial fixture became the latest victim of small field sizes in British jump racing after only 48 horses were declared for Saturday's seven-race card despite £295,000 being offered in prize-money.

Six runners are set to contest the William Hill Rendlesham Hurdle worth £60,000, while the other Grade 2 on the card, the Albert Bartlett Prestige Novices' Hurdle, has attracted seven runners.

The William Hill Grand National Trial is the card's big race and a field of 11 are due to feature, including Secret Reprieve and Blaklion with course specialist Bristol De Mai topping the weights.

Clerk of the course Kirkland Tellwright is confident the fixture will go ahead despite ongoing fears of Storm Eunice. The weather fears may have somewhat impacted the likely turnout, but it is more a reflection of the current trend of disappointing field sizes in Britain.

Haydock card

It follows Sandown having only four runners contesting the Royal Artillery Gold Cup on Thursday, while the three Grade 2 prizes on offer last Saturday at Warwick and Newbury had no more than five runners.

Tellwright said on Thursday: "We're no different to the rest of the game, the field sizes are up and down but we'd have liked a couple more in a few of the races but we've got to take what we've got.

"The Rendlesham, Victor Ludorum and the [2m4f] novice handicap chase don't get usually get big fields and in fairness there's a tradition of not getting large fields at this meeting. The weather isn't helping either.

"There's an issue of small fields all over and Haydock won't buck the trend. This has been fairly well reported in recent weeks and our ground won't be helping it."

Goshen: faces only three rivals in the Kingwell HurdleCredit: Bill Selwyn (Getty Images)

Just four horses were declared for the Wincanton Matchbook Betting Exchange Kingwell Hurdle, another Grade 2 event this weekend. That race has only once attracted just four runners this decade, when Rayvin Black won in 2016.

A total of 62 horses were declared for Wincanton's seven-race card, while a further seven are scheduled to run at Ascot on the same day.

Fakenham's Friday card had attracted only 38 runners before being cancelled due to forecast high winds.

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