WINCANTON ABANDON THIRD STRAIGHT MEETING AS FIRM GROUND PERSISTS

Wincanton has abandoned its meeting on Thursday 19 November because of firm ground, the third fixture in a row the Somerset track has lost to the dry weather. The Jockey Club said in a notice on the course's website that less than 9mm of rain has fallen so far this month and there is not enough in the forecast to bring the ground back to a raceable condition.

General admission ticket holders will be refunded automatically, while annual members and hospitality guests are being contacted directly by the racecourse.

Clerk of the course: ground has barely moved

Clerk of the course Tom Ryall called the situation "massively frustrating", pointing out that the course has seen dry summers before but never one this dry in the autumn. He said around 89mm of rain fell in a single week a few weeks ago, which took the ground to good to firm, but only about 8mm has fallen since the Badger Beer Chase day was abandoned earlier this month.

Some rain is forecast for next week, with Sunday afternoon and Tuesday to Thursday looking potentially wet, but Ryall warned that recent forecasts have kept promising rain that then faded as it got closer. The course will take stock again on Monday.

Reservoir cannot solve it alone

Wincanton's reservoir only refills from natural rainfall. It was emptied in April and stayed that way until around August, and it now sits at roughly 60 per cent capacity, enough for about six or seven days of irrigation across the track. Ryall explained the water will not be used until the course is close to raceable, as watering without rain would not be enough on its own.

The course had a good run until this season began, losing only one meeting, to frost in early January, while racing on through January and February when other tracks were abandoning because of waterlogging.

Wincanton's next scheduled raceday is 24 November. The track is also due to stage two fixtures transferred from Ludlow on 10 and 24 February, after the BHA confirmed this week that Ludlow's remaining meetings for the season are moving elsewhere.