Weather continuing to force changes to National Hunt programme

The British Horseracing Authority has announced further changes to the start of the new National Hunt season with the ground showing little sign of easing in the coming days.

Fixtures at Exeter on October 15 and Wincanton on October 25 have been abandoned. Additional fixtures have been added at Fontwell and Perth on the 15th, while the Wincanton meeting has been transferred in its entirety to Market Rasen.

The meeting at Kempton on October 18 is currently under review with the ground currently unfit for racing.

Tom Byrne, BHA head of racing and betting, said:  “The challenges facing jump racecourses and participants continue with limited rain falling across the country.

“We have taken the opportunity to replace Exeter with a fixture at Fontwell Park, as well as adding an extra fixture into the programme at Perth to make use of their track following their summer season. We expect both tracks to be able to offer ground on the easier side of good.

“We continue to work with racecourses to support the delivery of the jumping programme, however as we enter October with still no significant rain in the forecast, we expect that challenge to get harder before it gets easier.

“We will continue to show flexibility where necessary and will announce further plans as soon as we are able to.”