Heavy going at York
The showcase fixture, which features the likes of the Juddmonte International, Coolmore Nunthorpe and totesport Ebor, is set to kick off on Tuesday on heavy ground following substantial rain.
York clerk of the course William Derby said: “We have changed the going to heavy after 25 millimetres of rain overnight.
“The forecast was for it to stop on Sunday morning and it is stopping now, with dry weather through the day before a band of light showers moves in later tonight.”
Newton Abbot are also due to race on Tuesday but their meeting rests on a precautionary inspection today.
The venue saw 11 millimetres of rain on Saturday and officials are expecting further rain.
“We are soft and heavy in places with further rain forecast later today and tomorrow,” said estate manager Jason Loosemore.
“It varies from forecast to forecast as to how much we will get but in light of that, we have called a precautionary inspection for 4pm tomorrow.
“At the moment we are raceable and I’m cautiously optimistic but we will have to see how much rain we get.”
The rain took its toll on Sunday’s schedule with Pontefract forced to abandon due to waterlogging.
An impromptu early morning inspection was necessary after a wet night but clerk of the course Norman Gundill reported the situation to be hopeless.
He said: “We have had an inch of rain since 1am and we were only forecast six millimetres.
“We have had a total of 82mm this week and there are areas of standing water on the track in three or four places.”
