Cheltenham gains as Sandown falls victim

TOMORROW'S high-profile meeting at Sandown has become the latest casualty of the cold snap after officials made the early decision to call off the fixture.
By The Newsroom
Published 3rd Dec 2010, 10:18 BST
Updated 3rd Dec 2010, 10:18 BST

Clerk of the course Andrew Cooper announced an inspection for 3pm yesterday to assess the prospects for the jumps card, featuring the Keith Prowse Hospitality Tingle Creek Chase.

But with no chance of conditions improving sufficiently, Cooper has made the decision to abandon.

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Today's meeting at Sandown was called off earlier in the day.

Cooper said: "Unfortunately it hasn't improved and, if anything, it's actually marginally worse as we've had a few snow flurries.

"We have five inches of snow on the track at the moment and that is going to stay there until Saturday at least. It's due to warm a bit from Saturday but everyone at the course is of the opinion that it will be not enough, soon enough."

Sandown's loss is Cheltenham's gain as the Tingle Creek will now be staged at Prestbury Park next Saturday.

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David Mackinnon, managing director for Sandown, said: ""We are devastated to have abandoned the meeting as it's a day of fantastic racing and festive entertainment.

"However, we are delighted the Keith Prowse Hospitality Tingle Creek Chase has been rescheduled at Cheltenham."