York's card abandoned
Today's 'race of the year' between New Approach and Duke Of Marmalade is off, along with the rest of the York card, as the course is waterlogged after another 11mm of rain overnight. Officials are hoping to restage today's three main races over the next three days of the meeting, but tomorrow's card is also in doubt -- there will be an inspection today at about 4pm and we'll pass on whatever decision is taken then.
In the meantime, there is racing at Brighton, with evening cards at Southwell and Newton Abbot (which passed an inspection this morning).
11.15am International to be staged on Friday
Today's big race, the Juddmonte International, will now be run at 2.50pm on Friday as the race before the Nunthorpe. We'll have to see if connections of New Approach and Duke Of Marmalade are still happy to race then.
The Great Voltigeur will be restaged on Thursday, while the Acomb Stakes will be run tomorrow, assuming that card survives the continuing rain.
Today's remaining cards hardly set the pulse racing following the disappointing loss of York. But at Brighton Limelight (4.20) looks worth another chance despite her rather lack-lustre reappearance effort at Yarmouth last week. It will be a surprise if there is not better to come from this well-bred filly whose wily trainer, Sir Mark Prescott, has a 40% strike rate with his older runners at Brighton in the last five seasons.
Welsh trainer Tim Vaughan is going great guns with his jumpers and can complete an across-the-card double this evening. First up is Brinkmanship (5.55) at Southwell, where this novice chaser looks more reliable than his main rival, Contact Dancer, and over at Newton Abbot, Flying Grey (6.10) can oblige. He won well on the Flat last time out and seems to apprciate soft ground. He'll certainly get that here.
4pm Tomorrow's card at York has also been abandoned
Despite a drying day, course officials have decided the track will still be unraceable tomorrow. They have also scheduled an inspection for noon tomorrow, when they will consider the chances of staging Thursday's card.
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