RACING THREATENED BY WASHOUT

Heavy rain across the country threatens to blank out tomorrow`s racing action in Britain.

Wet weather today meant that only Ayr`s meeting survived unscathed from the four meetings due to take place in Britain and Ireland.

The Flat meeting at Leicester tomorrow has already been abandoned while Sedgefield and Ayr are subject to inspections at 7am and 7.30am respectively.

Ayr managed to complete its six-race card despite the going being described as heavy this morning.

Clerk of the course Richard Pridham said: 'Obviously the course is raceable because we have raced today.

'But in light of the forecast of overnight rain the stewards have decided that we shall hold an inspection at 7.30am.'

An inspection has been called for 7am at Sedgefield to see if their seven-race card can go ahead.

Clerk of the course James Hutchinson said: 'It`s raceable at present but it is raining now and there is further rain forecast.

'The going is soft, heavy in places. We could take a bit more rain but if there is a lot the meeting would be doubtful.'

Leicester`s meeting today had already lost two races on the round course due to an area of unsafe ground when waterlogging claimed the final race on the straight course and tomorrow`s card.

Clerk of the course Nick Lees explained: 'We`ve abandoned for the rest of the day and tomorrow.

'It has been raining since 11am and the going was already heavy.'

Heavy rain had also put paid to today`s meeting at Windsor.

Ground conditions were already testing and a morning downpour made the track unraceable.

The eight-race card was called off after an inspection at 12.30pm.

Clerk of the course Chris Stickels said: 'It was raceable this morning but it was heavy ground.

'It didn`t start raining until 11am but it started drizzling and then it came on steadier and it tipped us over the edge.'

A drainage problem led to today`s meeting at Punchestown being abandoned for reasons of safety after one race.

Wednesday`s programme has already seen one casualty after the Flat meeting at Haydock was abandoned because of waterlogging.

Officials at the course inspected at noon today and found that racing would be impossible.

Clerk of the course Kirkland Tellwright said: 'We have had to abandon Wednesday`s meeting because of waterlogging.

'The rain has just gone on and on and we have had a further 7mm of rain this morning.'

The meeting was to have been the first that Tellwright and general manager Adam Waterworth would have been in charge and they will have to wait until November 2nd to make their debuts.

There are no problems reported for Wednesday`s meeting at Wetherby where the going is officially good to soft, while the day`s other meeting is on the all-weather at Lingfield.