Uttoxeter call off chases; hurdles and bumper to go ahead

Uttoxeter are to stage an all-hurdle and bumper card on Thursday after abandoning the two chases on the card.

With the chase course waterlogged and the hurdles track heavy, but raceable, officials at the Staffordshire venue took the decision to call off the chases.

They are in contact with the British Horseracing Authority about adding to the four hurdle races and one bumper to make a full programme.

“We thought it was a prudent decision at this stage as parts of the chase course are still under water,” said clerk of the course Charlie Moore.

“This is an option for us. As long as the weather does not do any worse than forecast, we should be all right.

“We’ll just see what gets thrown at us tonight, but at the moment we are raceable on the hurdles course.

“Once the BHA have sorted out Wolverhampton and Southwell, we’ll have a look and see about putting in one or two extra races to make a six or seven-race card.”