Wincanton, Towcester given green light

This afternoon’s meeting at Wincanton has passed an early-morning precautionary inspection.

Clerk of the course Barry Johnson delivered the good news after the Somerset track yielded to just one millimetre of overnight rain.

Johnson said: “We have passed the inspection and the ground is heavy, but perfectly raceable.

“We would not have wanted too much more rain, but what we had last night was fine.”

Tony McCoy, chasing a career landmark haul of 3,000 British and Irish National Hunt winners, is in action at Wincanton.

The 13-times champion jockey rides Stradbrook in the Bruton Handicap Hurdle.

Meanwhile, Towcester’s meeting has also been given the go-ahead following an 8am inspection.

Although the going is heavy, fears of waterlogging were allayed by just one millimetre of overnight rainfall.

Clerk of the course Robert Bellamy said: “Racing goes ahead, which is very good news.

“The forecast is for conditions to improve throughout the morning so we are going to be totally fine.”