Tipperary and Newcastle fall to waterlogging

Last night’s meeting at Tipperary was cancelled due to a waterlogged track.

Officials were left with no choice but to call off the Flat fixture following a deluge of rainfall.

The track sustained 35 millimetres of overnight rainfall, which left thesituation untenable.

Meanwhile, officials at Newcastle were left stunned as a huge storm led to the curtailment of the first afternoon of the three-day Northumberland Plate meeting and forced the abandonment of today’s evening’s card.

Clerk of the course James Armstrong said an assessment will be made today of the prospects for John Smith’s-sponsored Plate day tomorrow, although a statement posted on the track’s Facebook page read: “An inspection will take place on Saturday morning before the Northumberland Plate Raceday. No significant rainfall is forecast over the next two days and we are doing everything possible to ensure that racing will go ahead as planned on Saturday.”

The course had earlier passed an inspection at midday after rain had turned conditions to heavy, and four races were completed, but the runners for the fifth race were ordered to return to the parade ring as torrential rain and lightning hit, with a decision then taken to abandon.