TOP MEETING UNDER THREAT

Wet weather continues to plague racing with Newbury`s prestigious Tote Gold Trophy meeting the latest to come under threat.

The first day of the Berkshire course`s fixture is subject to a noon inspection tomorrow while Huntingdon is the only survivor of the day`s three scheduled jumps meetings - subject to a 7.30am inspection.

An unexpected burst of rain last night has changed the going to heavy at Newbury and further rain is forecast tonight.

Estate manager Richard Osgood said: 'The going is heavy and we will have an inspection at noon tomorrow for Friday`s meeting.

'We were not expecting any rain last night and we got a quarter of an inch.

'Another half-inch is forecast for tonight and that is why we have called an inspection.

'We don`t want to set any alarm bells ringing but at the same time we have to be realistic. A decision on Saturday will be made after tomorrow`s inspection.'

Officials at Huntingdon will hold a 7.30am inspection to see if tomorrow`s meeting will take place.

Prospects are described as '60-40' in favour of the card going ahead following a lengthy inspection of the track this morning.

However, clerk of the course Hugo Bevan did warn that further rain is forecast for this evening.

He said: 'We have waterlogging on the chase course before the open ditch in front of the stands and the following fence but we can doll them off no problem.

'The hurdle course is fine apart from one area in the straight where there is some waterlogging.

'It is not very bad and could well be gone by tomorrow morning.

'Taking everything into account we will inspect again at 7.30am tomorrow.

'I would give it a 60-40 chance of racing but the bad news is that we have rain forecast tonight and if we got a serious amount it would cause us further problems.'

Waterlogging has claimed tomorrow`s meeting at Wincanton.

The course was found to be unraceable at an inspection this afternoon and became the 79th abandonment of the current jumps season.

Clerk of the course Ian Renton said: 'We are off I`m afraid.

'It`s just very wet, bad ground, it`s started raining again and there is more forecast tonight.

'It is unraceable and there is no prospect of it improving in time.'

Stratford`s card tomorrow was abandoned on Tuesday.

Friday`s jumps meeting at Bangor remains in the balance after another wet night and there will be an inspection there at 8.30am tomorrow.

Clerk of the course Michael Webster said: 'The going is heavy and we are going to have an inspection at 8.30am tomorrow.

'There is a flood warning on the River Dee and there has got to be some doubt over the meeting so we will have an inspection tomorrow morning and assess the situation.'

Prospects are bright for the televised meetings at Ayr and Haydock on Saturday.

Kirkland Tellwright, clerk of the course at Haydock, said: 'We`re pretty optimistic about staging our meeting at the moment.

'The course could handle a bit more rain. The forecast is for more showers and there is the threat of frost but we are hopeful.'

Ayr is perfectly raceable with the ground soft.

'Some more rain and a frost are expected but it`s looking like we`ll be all right,' reported a spokesman today.

However, Catterick is likely to announce an inspection tomorrow ahead of its scheduled weekend meeting.

Course spokesman John Gundill said: 'We`ve had more rain today and that`s taken us well over two inches since the beginning of the month.

'There is standing water in numerous places and the weather forecast is not on our side. Prospects are not good - we need to improve a great deal.'