Doncaster and Newbury meetings cancelled as heavy rainfall hits Britain

Today's meeting at Doncaster, which was set to feature the Group 1 Vertem Futurity Trophy, has been cancelled due to a waterlogged track, with Newbury's Flat card also called off.

The planned morning inspection at Doncaster was brought forward following a night of torrential rain, where course officials made the decision to call the meeting off.

"It's as wet as I've ever seen this track," said clerk of the course Roderick Duncan. "We had 24mm of rainfall up until midnight yesterday, and we've had a further 10mm so far today with the rain forecast to continue until about 3pm."

He added: "Doncaster will not be hosting the Vertem Futurity Trophy, but there may be some conversations with the regulator about a potential move."

Newbury's meeting, which was due to feature the Horris Hill and St Simon Stakes, has also been cancelled following an inspection.

The ground was described as heavy for Friday's meeting and officials decided that the ground was too saturated for racing following significant rainfall overnight.

Clerk of the course Keith Ottesen said on Saturday morning: "We got through yesterday and that was down to help from the jockeys but we knew we were going to struggle with any more rain.

"The forecast was for very little rain overnight but we had nine millimetres and areas where the ground had been opened up have become saturated and unsafe.

"There is ten to 12 millimetres of rain forecast today so there is no chance of any improvement."

Conditions have also eased at Cheltenham, with the chase and hurdle courses now soft, good to soft in places (from good to soft).

Clerk of the course Simon Claisse said: "Overnight we've had seven millimetres of rainfall. Although there seems to be a lull in the rainfall it is meant to continue through until to lunchtime after which we're expecting a much drier afternoon."

As a result of the cancellations at Doncaster and Newbury, ITV will instead be showing four races from Kelso (1.50 to 3.35) as well as the first four races at Cheltenham, with those running five minutes later than advertised.

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