'There's lots of rain forecast' - all three afternoon fixtures face inspections on Friday as Storm Babet causes disruption

Fakenham and Uttoxeter's Friday cards must pass 7.30am inspections and Redcar faces a course check at 8.30am as Storm Babet continues to cause major disruption to meetings across Britain.

The six-race card at Uttoxeter was already depleted earlier in the week when the chase races were cancelled due to waterlogging, but officials will assess conditions once more with a deluge of rain forecast overnight and on Friday. The going is soft, heavy in places.

Clerk of the course Richard Fothergill said: "We're raceable and the track has taken the rain, but we are mindful that the forecast is going to get significantly worse. From 3am right through racing we could get 20-30mm, and we couldn't take that.

"We are just going to be mindful that there is lots of rain, but we are raceable and are going to give the forecast a chance. Sometimes the valleys around us can mean we are more protected, but there's lots of rain forecast."

Officials at Fakenham will also inspect at the same time on raceday due to the threat of heavy rain.

The going at the Norfolk track is good, good to soft in places, but between 5-15mm of rain is expected to fall from midnight until 7am on Friday morning. Around 20-30mm is then expected until midday before racing.

Redcar will need to pass an inspection after an unexpected 10mm of rain fell on Thursday afternoon with 8mm of rain forecast overnight and a similar amount on raceday. The going is soft.

Haydock: Friday's meeting was cancelled on Thursday due to a waterlogged trackCredit: Edward Whitaker

Friday's fare in Britain has already been hit after Haydock's meeting was cancelled on Thursday morning due to a waterlogged track.

Officials had called an 8am inspection on Thursday following significant rainfall earlier in the week, but the card was scrapped with the track unraceable and more heavy rain forecast.

Clerk of the course Kirkland Tellwright said: "We had 14mm of rain last night, which would've been more than enough anyway but there's a lot more rain coming through today too. It's a shame, but was predictable on the forecast."

Officials at Newcastle continue to monitor conditions ahead of its Friday all-weather fixture, with strong winds up to 50mph forecast.

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Going turns soft at Ascot as Storm Babet brings heavy overnight rain in advance of British Champions Day 

The prospects for upcoming race meetings in Britain and Ireland with Storm Babet blowing in 

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