Non-runners reduce unique Kempton card to 23 runners and three match races

Kempton's only evening jumps fixture of the year will be contested by just 23 runners, with three of the seven contests reduced to match races.

Final declarations had attracted 31 runners for the meeting worth a shade over £60,000, but eight non-runners by 3pm have left just 23 standing, with the conditional jockeys' handicap hurdle which opens the card the worst affected. Ten runners were set to go to post for the two-mile race but the field size has been halved to just five.

Only one of the eight non-runners, Ace Ventura, was pulled out by connections because of the going.

On Wednesday, Kempton clerk of the course Barney Clifford had blamed the prolonged dry spell for the initial low turnout at this evening's unique fixture.

Small fields have been a feature of jumps meetings across Britain of late, with this afternoon's jumps card at Warwick hampered by 12 non-runners, with eight taken out because of the going.

Kempton racecard on Thursday

The ground at Kempton is good to firm, good in places, with that description achieved only by extensive watering.

Clifford said: "We transferred this fixture to an evening slot last year and we're low numerically this time as the weather hasn't helped us very much.

"Following the driest of winters, we watered on Lanzarote day for the first time in my 20 years here. We've had no rain and we'll have put on an unprecedented amount of water – 160mm since March 20 – to try to keep on top of it for tomorrow.

"The ground is a mixture of good to firm and good, with a good covering of grass, and if we get a couple of showers in the morning it should be okay."

Flat trainer Joe Tuite has an interesting runner over jumps in the shape of Black KalanisiCredit: Edward Whitaker

Flat trainer Joe Tuite has seized a rare opportunity over jumps to give Black Kalanisi his first start since last June in the match with Settimo Milanese in the 2m5f Skyline Roofing "National Hunt" Novices' Hurdle (6.20).

Black Kalanisi, who was beaten two lengths by Supreme Novices' Hurdle runner-up Thomas Darby in a bumper last May, bids for a hat-trick after two subsequent wins at Worcester.

"He pulled a muscle in behind quite badly so we gave him a break, but he's ready to go racing now," said Tuite, who has saddled four winners from eight runners over jumps in Britain.

"It will be a tight race between the pair but he shows me plenty at home and is a horse I like a lot. I just hope there isn't too much rain as he wants better ground."

Kempton card

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