Saturday’s fixture abandoned due to frozen course at Sandown
The bad weather in England has affected racecourses all around the country with abandonment issues of races are at large, as Sandown is the latest case. A few parts of the racecourse turned frozen after a chilly Thursday night, and therefore the officials
at Sandown decided to cancel the show.
The venue was scheduled to host seven big races this weekend. The card included Betfred "Double Delight" Contenders Hurdle, Betfred "When Both Teams Score" Handicap Chase, Betfred Goals Galore Challengers Novices´ Chase, Betfred And Levy Board Heroes
Handicap Hurdle.
Among other scheduled meetings were Betfred Masters Handicap Chase, Betfred "Hat Trick Heaven" Juvenile Hurdle, and Betfred Bonus King Bingo Novices´ Handicap Hurdle.
Since the temperature fell down to -4C on Thursday night, the authorities at Sandown were left with no choice but to call the day off.
As expected it was a cold night," clerk of the course Andrew Cooper stated on Friday.
He added: "The bitter wind dropped, but in terms of temperatures it was around -4C which was the coldest night of the week. Any bare or worn patches from previous meetings under the covers are pretty solid and there isn't any prospect of the weather
changing."
Binocular, the 2010 Champion Hurdle winner, was planned to get back to action in the Betfred Double Delight Contenders Hurdle, but the poor conditions did not let any excitement to take place.
After the cancellation on Friday, Binocular’s trainer, Nicky Henderson showed his interest in the Contenders Hurdle to be rescheduled.
"Perhaps there is also the opportunity for some racecourse to offer to put on the Contenders Hurdle," the trainer shared.
However, when Cooper was asked about the idea, he refrained from giving a clear reply, saying that the final decision will be made by BHA.
"We don't have a great deal of input in that. It would be a BHA-led initiative. But I'm sure, given the calibre of races we've lost, there will be some discussion at the BHA," added the clerk.
The eight-year-old horse is out of action after his close victory in the Williamhill.com Christmas Hurdle over Christmas last year. After a nail-biting contest, he managed to top the chart by a neck’s margin.
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