Waterlogged Musselburgh forced to cancel Thursday fixture

The prolonged spell of wet weather soaking Britain and Ireland has claimed another meeting, with Thursday's card at Musselburgh cancelled due to waterlogging.

A total of 22 millimetres of rain fell at the track in the last 24 hours, leaving the course saturated with another 25mm forecast.

Clerk of the course Harriet Graham said: "It's waterlogged and there's no possibility of it drying up by Thursday. We haven't got time for it to improve."

With heavy overnight rain also claiming the final day of Fairyhouse's Easter festival, racing on Tuesday was restricted to the all-weather at Lingfield.

Turf racing could return on Wednesday but hopes now rest on Leopardstown as Catterick's card failed to pass an afternoon inspection on Tuesday.

Clerk of the course Fiona Needham was hopeful the meeting would pass the inspection, but the course was found to be waterlogged in places.

The going at Leopardstown eased to heavy on Tuesday morning (from soft, soft to heavy in places), and more rain is forecast but an inspection has not been called.

Friday's meeting at Wetherby is in jeopardy with areas of the back straight flooded. An inspection has been called for 1pm on Wednesday.