Storm Babet continues to cause havoc

PA Sport Reporters
October 24, 2023 8:57 am

Yarmouth and the Curragh latest fixtures lost.

Storm Babet continues to affect racing in Britain and Ireland, with this afternoon’s meeting at Yarmouth and tomorrow’s card at the Curragh the latest casualties.

There are also now inspections planned at Fontwell ahead of tomorrow’s fixture and at Clonmel for Thursday.

Yarmouth were forced to abandon their seven-race Flat card after an early-morning inspection, as “considerable rainfall overnight” left the track waterlogged.

❗ RACING ABANDONED ❗
After failing this morning’s track inspection due to considerable rainfall overnight and this morning, unfortunately we have had to abandon today’s meeting. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/fLCylqINBG
— Great Yarmouth Races (@GTYarmouthRaces) October 24, 2023

Officials at the Curragh have cancelled Wednesday’s meeting following 21mm of rain last night, with the course currently unfit for racing and facing an unfavourable weather forecast.

Clerk of the course Brendan Sheridan said: “The forecast is for a further 5mm of rain today with the possibility of more rain moving in tomorrow, so there was no prospect of the situation improving here prior to racing.

“We’ve had a total of 77mm in the last week and the ground has been heavy since entries closed last Thursday.”

Please note that an inspection of the track will take place at 7:30am tomorrow ahead of our afternoon fixture due to varied forecasts and the possibility of large amounts of rainfall over the next 24hrs.
We will update you as soon as possible of the inspection’s outcome. pic.twitter.com/onpVqSrK24
— Fontwell Park (@FontwellPark) October 24, 2023

Fontwell have called a precautionary inspection for tomorrow morning at 7.30am.

The going is currently described as soft, good to soft in places, but “further significant rain” is expected this evening and early on Wednesday.

At Clonmel, the ground is heavy but currently fit for action ahead of racing on Thursday.

However, clerk of the course Lorcan Wyer reported: “Having spoken with Met Eireann, there is the possibility of a further 5-10mm of rain and some spot flooding tomorrow afternoon which will be on top of the 54mm of rain the track has had in the last week.

“With that additional rain forecast for tomorrow, we felt it was prudent to let people know as early as possible that we will need to have a precautionary inspection at 7.30am on Thursday morning.”

Last Saturday’s scheduled meetings at Stratford and Market Rasen were lost to the weather, along with Wednesday’s Worcester card and four upcoming fixtures at Southwell.