Rain hits New Year programme cross-channel
Lingfield's all-weather meeting was left to fly the flag after all three of yesterday's jump meetings were abandoned on Sunday.
Two of today's cards, at Fontwell and Warwick, have already been called off with a third, Catterick, subject to a 7.30am inspection because of standing water on parts of the track.
After Warwick had fallen on Sunday, Fontwell was lost following an inspection yesterday afternoon because the course is waterlogged.
"We've had a further 10 millimetres of rain today on top of 15 millimetres yesterday. And it is just not safe," said clerk of the course Geoff Stickels.
Catterick clerk of the course Jonjo Sanderson said: "We have got water standing and we would not have raced today.
"If we get any rain tonight I'd find it hard for us to race tomorrow, but it does drain incredibly quickly here.
"We have had so much rain four inches in the last eight days yet there is only one bad area just as you come into the back straight on the hurdles course which shows what a great draining track this is."
Catterick are also scheduled to race on New Year's Day for which Plumpton has become the first casualty.
"We're absolutely soaked, there was no chance of us going ahead," a course spokeswoman said.
Cheltenham, where racing is scheduled for today and tomorow, are worried about a poor forecast for tonight.
"We've had 10mm of rain today which it has taken quite well, making the going soft all round," said clerk of the course Simon Claisse.
"The forecast is for a mainly dry night and dryish day tomorrow. No inspection is planned in view of the overnight forecast but Wednesday could cause us some concern if tomorrow night's forecast rain comes.
"There's a band of rain coming in and it could be hefty. It's a watching brief on that one and we will take a view during tomorrow afternoon.
"The wind has swung round to the north east which is helpful."
But Leicester are confident that tomorrow's all-chase card will go ahead.
The hurdle races were abandoned at the weekend as that course is waterlogged but no problems are reported on the chase track where the going is Soft, Good to Soft in places.
"Altogether yesterday and the previous night we had 22 millimetres of rain," said clerk of the course Nick Lees.
"But fingers crossed we should be all right.
"Having an all-chase card, we should have as good a chance of racing as anybody.
"Tomorrow is set to be a nice dry day but Wednesday's forecast is awful."
Prospects are little better later in the week with Thursday's meeting at Folkestone, Hexham on Friday and Sandown on Saturday already under threat from waterlogging.
Folkestone clerk of the course Chris Stickels said: "We've had over an inch of rain today and we will decide tomorrow when to hold an inspection. It will either be tomorrow afternoon or Wednesday morning."
No problems are reported at all-weather tracks with racing set to take place at Wolverhampton today and Friday and at Southwell on Wednesday and Thursday.
In Ireland, the meetings at Punchestown and Tramore are expected to go ahead today but tomorrow's fixture at Fairyhouse has been abandoned as the course is waterlogged.
