Punters face total jumps racing wipeout after Ascot abandons Clarence House Chase card amid sub-zero temperatures
BRITAIN is facing a total jumps racing wipeout on Saturday – after Ascot cancelled its huge Clarence House Chase card for the second year in a row.
The sub-zero cold snap has seen National Hunt fixtures up and down the country scrapped with racecourses frozen.
Ascot became the latest to fall victim after a 4pm inspection confirmed the bad news on Thursday.
Willie Mullins’ Champion Chase favourite El Fabiolo was due to take on Nicky Henderson’s Jonbon in the big race.
But it looks like that will now be rearranged for Cheltenham’s Trials Day on January 27.
It was thought El Fabiolo’s owners would be reluctant to send him over again.
But Sun Racing’s Matt Chapman reported the superstar 2m chaser never left Mullins’ Closutton yard… so the blockbuster head-to-head could still be on.
Meanwhile, Haydock and Taunton – the two remaining jumps fixtures on Saturday – were subject to Friday inspections.
Haydock failed its own deadline at 7am with the track frozen after temperatures hit -3C.
Taunton will have a midday inspection for their Saturday card.
An Ascot statement read: “The BetMGM Clarence House Chase raceday has been abandoned.
“Temperatures dropped to -6C overnight into Thursday and the track is still frozen in places at 4pm under the covers.
“Given the forecast remains for sub-zero temperatures over the next two nights there is no prospect of improvement before raceday on Saturday.”
The Arctic blast affected Irish racing on Thursday as well, with their Fairyhouse card scrapped.
That was in addition to Ludlow, Newcastle and Wincanton all axing their meetings.
Lingfield was forced to cancel the first day of their Winter Million series on Friday.
However, Saturday’s all-weather action on the Flat looks like it will be unaffected.
Market Rasen also cancelled their Friday jumps action.
Sky Sports Racing were dealt a cruel blow when Newbury bosses had no choice but to abandon the first fixture of their sparking new five-year TV deal on Wednesday.
The mass cancellations are proving a sorry case of de ja vu for punters, with many of the same meetings this time last year being cancelled.
But there is hope for Sunday with rising temperatures on Saturday.
Lingfield will hope to hold their £165,000 Fleur De Lys chase card while Thurles in Ireland is ‘all systems go’ for a belting seven-race fixture which looks set to include Allaho.
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