Another blank day over jumps after Hereford cancels Wednesday's meeting

The effects of Storm Ciara are still being felt three days on as Hereford cancelled Wednesday's meeting after failing an inspection on the morning of racing.

Thursday's Clonmel card has also been lost due to the weather, and means 13 fixtures across Britain and Ireland have been called off since Sunday.

Monday's Plumpton meeting is the only jumps fixture to have survived so far this week.

Hereford clerk of the course Libby O'Flaherty was concerned about the prospects of racing on Tuesday, and the meeting was cancelled shortly after 7am on Wednesday due to areas of false ground.

Hereford: was forced to cancel its seven-race jumps card on WednesdayCredit: Alan Crowhurst

The track joins Fairyhouse and Wetherby as the day's other cancelled meetings, with Fairyhouse rescheduled for Monday, February 24. Tuesday's lost Punchestown card, which was already rescheduled from Sunday, will now take place February 18.

Thursday's fixtures at Kelso and Fontwell have also been called off.

However, there is still a double dose of all-weather action on Wednesday, with Southwell racing in the afternoon before a twilight card at Kempton.

Storm damage

Sunday
Exeter, OFF
Punchestown, OFF

Monday
Catterick, OFF
Plumpton, ON

Tuesday
Ayr, OFF
Lingfield, OFF
Punchestown (rearranged from Sunday), OFF

Wednesday
Fairyhouse, OFF
Hereford, OFF
Wetherby, OFF

Thursday
Clonmel, OFF
Fontwell, OFF
Kelso, OFF

Looking ahead to Thursday, hopes are high Leicester can get the British jumps season back on track after the going was updated to soft on Wednesday morning (from soft, heavy in places).

Those heading to Fakenham for Valentine's Day on Friday will be pleased to know things are looking promising with the going good to soft, while Sandown is a mixture of heavy and soft on the hurdle and chase tracks. Rain is forecast in both regions on Thursday.

Prospects

Thursday
Leicester, Soft

Friday
Fakenham, Good to soft
Sandown, Heavy, soft in places (hurdle); Soft, heavy in places (chase)

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