Pair of Cheltenham Grade 2s reopened on New Year's Day

A pair of Grade 2 contests at Cheltenham on New Year's Day were among no fewer than 12 races reopened on Tuesday, with the busy festive period of racing allied to the ongoing struggles with novice chase field sizes taking its toll.

A novice chase at Haydock on Saturday, where the going on Tuesday was described as heavy with more rain forecast, has attracted just three initial entries, while Cheltenham's BetBright Dipper Novices' Chase and the Dornan Engineering Relkeel Hurdle are also on the reopened list.

Cheltenham's Grade 2 novice chase, over just two furlongs further than Haydock's poorly supported race and won last year by Whisper, drew nine entries, while the Relkeel – often a stepping stone to the Stayers' Hurdle – received just seven.

The going at Cheltenham on Tuesday was given as soft, good to soft in places, with plenty of rain forecast.

Novice chases at Warwick, on Sunday, and Catterick, on New Year's Day, also reopened having received five entries apiece.

A beginners' chase at Exeter has attracted just seven entries so far, as has a 2m5f novice handicap chase at Fakenham.