Beverley confident of avoiding abandonment fiasco repeat after remedial work

Beverley is confident its ITV appearance on Saturday will pass without incident after remedial work to the track in the wake of Wednesday's abandonment due to safety concerns.

The midweek card was abandoned after four races with jockeys raising concerns over two of the bends in particular. Danny Tudhope reported his mount slipped and one jockey said the rail movements had made the bends as "tight as a right angle".

BHA course inspector Nick Carlisle walked the whole track on Friday to inspect the changes and was happy with conditions, as was PJ McDonald, who is the Flat safety officer for the Professional Jockeys Association (PJA).

Beverley chief executive Sally Iggulden said: "We've moved the rail around the bend, which is where Danny Tudhope reported his horse slipped. That's been moved back into its original position so the track is at its widest configuration around the bends.

"The bend has also had extra aeration work to ensure there's good grip and it's been irrigated more than the rest of the track to make sure they can get good purchase as they go around.

"We have a dry forecast through to the end of racing. The ground is good to firm, good in places and we'll put 3mm of water on overnight."

Beverley, which took the decision to abandon as soon as the jockeys raised their concerns, reimbursed all jockeys and owners of horses unable to race. Owners of horses who did not get the chance to run were compensated with £300 per horse, with some additional reimbursement under the Racehorse Owners Association insurance scheme.

PJA executive director Dale Gibson said: "Following the inspection and subsequent abandonment on Wednesday, both PJ McDonald and I have been in consultation with the BHA inspectorate and the head groundsman.

"We understand that work has taken place to rectify the issue both by realigning the rails and preparing that area of the track ahead of racing on Saturday. The safety of horses and jockeys remains of paramount importance to us.

"Beverley has agreed to reimburse those jockeys who were booked to ride but hadn’t yet done so following the abandonment."

Read Saturday's race previews:

1.45 Haydock: Will Dragon Symbol's class tell against some in-form Achilles rivals?

2.05 Beverley: 'She has a great chance' - why it could pay to oppose the unbeaten favourite

2.55 Haydock: Can racing's hottest duo Haggas and Marquand keep the winners flowing?

3.15 Beverley: 'He's one of our stronger ones' - quotes and analysis for Two Year Old Trophy

3.30 Haydock: Kinross seeks to deny a Dettori double in wide-open John of Gaunt Stakes

4.00 Navan: Group horse in a handicap? Sun King out to defy big weight in red-hot contest

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