Big Newbury card abandoned Saturday's top-notch card at Newbury has been abandoned due to snow. There had been optimistic noises that the meeting would beat the weather and frost covers had been down for nearly two weeks. However, following 4cm of snow overnight course officials were left with no choice. With the likes of Long Rung, Sprinter Sacre and Zarkandar all due to have a run before Cheltenham, there is the possibility of the meeting being rearranged. "We've had to abandon," said clerk of the course Richard Osgood. "There's snow on the covers and there is no predicted rise in temperatures or rain which would help shift it. "There have been preliminary discussions about restaging the fixture and we are looking to hold it next week but at this stage I know nothing more than that." Officials are now in discussions with the British Horseracing Authority in an attempt to save the major races from the meeting. Newbury's managing director Stephen Higgins said: "This is an important fixture in the racing calendar and we will be entering into talks with the BHA, The Levy Board and Betfair on the possibility of restaging some of the races."
