Racing: Rain puts Sandown's Saturday card in jeopardy

The weather continues to hit racing as today's meetings at Fontwell and Warwick were abandoned yesterday, while Catterick is subject to a 7.30am inspection because of standing water on parts of the track. No problems are reported at today's other remaining fixtures at Cheltenham or on the all-weather at Wolverhampton.

The weather continues to hit racing as today's meetings at Fontwell and Warwick were abandoned yesterday, while Catterick is subject to a 7.30am inspection because of standing water on parts of the track. No problems are reported at today's other remaining fixtures at Cheltenham or on the all-weather at Wolverhampton.

Plumpton, one of six meetings, including Catterick again, scheduled for tomorrow, is also waterlogged and was abandoned yesterday.

Cheltenham are worried about tonight's poor forecast and the clerk of the course, Simon Claisse, said last night: "We've had 10mm of rain today, which the course has taken well, making the going soft all round. No inspection is planned in view of the overnight forecast, but Wednesday could cause us some concern if tomorrow night's forecast rain comes."

Leicester's clerk of the course, Nick Lees, is confident that their all-chase card tomorrow will survive, but prospects look less bright for later in the week with Thursday's meeting at Folkestone, Hexham's card on Friday and Sandown on Saturday already under threat from waterlogging.

Folkestone clerk of the course, Chris Stickels, said yesterday: "We've had over an inch of rain today and we will decide tomorrow when to hold an inspection. It will either be tomorrow afternoon or Wednesday morning."

No problems are expected at Southwell's all-weather track, where they race tomorrow and again on Friday.

In Ireland, today's meetings at Punchestown and Tramore are expected to go ahead, but tomorrow's fixture at Fairyhouse has been abandoned as the course is waterlogged.