Exeter called off despite passing morning inspection after Storm Bert causes safety hazard

Racing at Exeter has been called off due to safety concerns caused by strong wind despite passing a morning inspection. 

The track was due to stage a seven-race card but held an inspection owing to significant rain and wind forecast overnight, with around 35 millimetres hitting the track ahead of the fixture. 

While the track was deemed raceable at 7am, clerk of the course Jason Loosemore was forced to reverse the decision two hours later in light of strong gales which caused structural damage to one of the grandstands. 

"We've got ridge tiles which have blown off the Brockman Stand, which houses the owners and trainers," Loosemore said. "They're 600 millimetre-long clay roofing tiles and a dozen or so have blown off alongside some other tiles, and there's an issue now for crowd safety.  

"The wind is still blowing and the roof is compromised, so you couldn't be sure more aren't going to come down. We inspected the site this morning and it was fine but the winds are currently 49.8mph.

"It is supposed to stop in another half hour or so but with a few tiles gone, the wind could get underneath the rest and we can't be certain of the structural certainty of the roof at this short notice." 

Exeter, which is due to stage its next meeting on December 6, is one of two tracks to be called off due to difficult conditions on Sunday, with Cork's meeting also cancelled as a result of waterlogging on Saturday evening.

However, racing still goes ahead at Punchestown, headlined by the John Durkan Memorial Chase (2.25). Conditions are soft on the chase and hurdles course and yielding to soft in places on the cross-country course following showers on Saturday. 

Read more:

Race of the season? Galopin Des Champs clashes with Fact To File and Fastorslow in barnstorming John Durkan 

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