'The heavens just opened' - overnight rain leads to withdrawals at Yarmouth

Yarmouth's meeting on Wednesday was hit by a host of non-runners after rain overnight had a dramatic effect on the going.

Ground conditions at the seaside venue had been described as good, good to firm in places on Tuesday, but then 12mm of rain fell, changing it to good to soft, soft in places.

That led to the cards being impacted by withdrawals and at noon on Wednesday, 27 horses had been taken out by their connections and 20 were because of the going, although a healthy initial total of 105 runners had been declared for the eight-race card, which starts at 1.00 and is live on Sky Sports Racing.

Yarmouth runners and riders

"We've had rain forecast for the last week, but haven't had any," said Yarmouth's clerk of the course Richard Aldous.

"Yesterday evening we had 12mm. Was I wanting that? Not really, but it's one of those things and I was expecting non-runners either way.

"If we hadn't got the rain I'd have expected non-runners and the same with the 12mm. When you have 105 declarations declared on good, good to firm with possibility of rain, some declare hoping you don't get rain and some declare hoping you do.

"The heavens just opened about 5pm yesterday and we got a bit more in the night."

Crowds will be on course and Aldous added: "There is a possibility of isolated showers, but they look like they're going south of us, although you never know – it's been doing that all week and raining 200 yards down the road, but not on the racecourse.

"I think the ground will be a little bit quicker up the middle and a bit easier up the rails – that's the way Yarmouth has been this year."

Warwick, Ayr and Cork also stage meetings in Britain and Ireland on Wednesday afternoon, while Southwell and Kempton have evening fixtures.

Yarmouth non-runners – all going unless stated

1.00
10 Fujaira King, 11 Thomas Lanfiere, 12 Moment Of Peace (not eaten up), 16 Johni Boxit

1.30
3 Cassiel, 9 Noisy Night (not eaten up)

2.00
2 Mayfair Pompette (not eaten up), 4 Cote D'Azur, 6 Nawar (rash), 8 Toro Dorado, 10 The Jean Genie, 12 Sky Lake, 13 Glen Esk (other), 14 Limelighter

2.30
2 Yuften, 6 Signal Twenty Nine, 10 Song At Twilight, 12 Pillars Of Earth, 13 Denable (not eaten up), 15 Swaffham Bulbeck

3.40
2 Ghadbbaan, 3 Pax Britannica

4.10
3 Brazen Arrow (not eaten up)

4.40
2 Capla Berry, 4 Sycamore, 6 Velvet Vista, 12 Legende D'Arte

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