Newbury Saturday meeting cancelled

Newbury’s meeting on Saturday, set to feature the return to action of Gold Cup winner Denman, has been abandoned.

The meeting has been in doubt all week but hopes were raised on Wednesday when some of the snow thawed.

However, conditions have deteriorated and course officials thought it best to let everybody know in plenty of time.

“We’ve still got plenty of snow on top of the covers,” said clerk of the course Richard Osgood.

“We didn’t actually have that much snow overnight but it is still sleeting now and more of it is forecast so it has no chance of shifting.

“It is only fair when people need to travel a long way in these conditions that they know early what is going on.

“It’s unfortunate but there is nothing we can do about it I’m afraid.”

As well as Denman’s return in the Aon Chase the card also featured the valuable totesport Trophy and the Game Spirit Chase.