Architect Tips on whether any of the weekend’s horse racing is not yet lost to the frost.
A big week of racing in the UK has been hit hard by the cold weather.
Horse racing cancelled meetings
Haydock’s Saturday card, which featured the Grade 2 Peter Marsh Chase and Grade 2 Supreme Trial, is the latest meeting to be abandoned due to a frozen track.
Elsewhere, the confirmed cancellation of Ascot’s Clarence House Chase card on Thursday following a 4pm inspection, which also fell victim to the cold weather, means the highly anticipated rematch between Willie Mullins’ El Fabiolo and Nicky Henderson’s Jonbon will not take place.
Meanwhile, Love Envoi - one of the star names on show on Friday’s opening day expected to feature in the Weatherbys Cheltenham Festival Betting Guide Hurdle, could now be rerouted to the Unibet Hurdle at Cheltenham next week after freezing temperatures scuppered plans to run at Lingfield.
Following the news earlier in the week that Champion Hurdle hero Constitution Hill will not be lining up in the Unibet Hurdle at Cheltenham, we might instead see Harry Fry’s mare line up in that race. She is currently a best price 10/1 for the Mares' Hurdle in March.
For the latest Champion Hurdle 2024 odds, click here.
What racing is still on this weekend?
With Haydock and Ascot’s cancellations, Taunton had remained the sole jumps fixture in Britain on Saturday. However, that card has now been cancelled after officials scrapped a midday inspection when sub-zero temperatures of -5C overnight left the course unraceable.
Meanwhile, Lingfield's Winter Million card on Sunday - set to feature the return of high-class chaser L'Homme Presse (20/1 for the Gold Cup) in the Fleur De Lys Chase - must pass a 2pm inspection on Saturday.
The track is currently frozen in places, but the weather is set to improve on Saturday, with temperatures of up to 6°C expected.
What will happen to the abandoned Clarence House Chase?
Last year, the Clarence House Chase moved to Cheltenham Trials Day following its cancellation. Discussions between the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) and stakeholders are under way to see if there’s a solution to potentially salvage the race for the second year in succession.
Should the race be rescheduled to Cheltenham Trials Day next weekend (Saturday 27th January), this addition would again add to an already exciting meeting at Prestbury Park.
How will the cancellations affect Cheltenham?
The rematch between the top two in the betting for the 2024 Champion Chase, El Fabiolo and Jonbon, will have to wait until the Cheltenham Festival in March, as the connections of the Arkle winner have ruled out travelling twice.
They insist they do not want the horse to make the journey by ferry twice in a week if the race is then rearranged for Cheltenham on 27th January. With limited time to find a suitable alternative, a lack of a prep run might not be ideal for the ante-post favourite.
However, Nicky Henderson intends to run Jonbon if the race is run at Cheltenham next weekend. If this does materialise, Jonbon will be a short-priced favourite to collect the spoils, with the likelihood of less than a handful of runners and his arch nemesis remaining in Ireland until the Festival.
Royale Pagaille (33/1 on Unibet for the Gold Cup), who was attempting to write his name into the history books by becoming the first horse to record three consecutive Peter Marsh Chase wins this weekend, is likely to head straight to Cheltenham now following the abandonment.
He will be having his fourth outing in the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup on Friday 15th March. This weekend's fixture being abandoned is a bitter end to the 10-year-old’s quest for history at his beloved venue, as this had been the primary target for the Betfair Chase winner.
Betfred
- Huge range of regular promotions
- 24/7 live chat service
- PickYourPunt builder for custom bets
