West Country jumping in jeopardy next month due to baked ground

Exeter, Wincanton and Taunton say the resumption of racing at their tracks is under threat because lack of rain has left the ground hard.

The summer heatwave has been followed by a dry start to the autumn in the West Country and left the three jumps courses concerned for their meetings next month.

The first meeting of 2018-19 at Exeter is scheduled for October 11, but clerk of the course Barry Johnson, who officiates in the same role at Wincanton, which is also owned by Jockey Club Racecourses, admitted that both tracks needed a substantial amount of rain to be able to race.