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Fontwell Park’s final fixture ahead of their summer break will now be a hurdle only programme after the British Horseracing Authority confirmed on Monday that the two steeplechases planned for the meeting had been abandoned.
Fontwell Park's final fixture ahead of their summer break will now be a hurdle only programme after the British Horseracing Authority confirmed on Monday that the two steeplechases planned for the meeting had been abandoned.
The evening meeting on Friday 16th June will feature an additional hurdle race which will be a 0-100 Novices' Handicap Hurdle over 2m 3f. This will form part of a six-race all-hurdle card with the option to divide.
Phillip Hide, Clerk of the Course at Fontwell, said: "We are grateful to the BHA for approving this switch, which will allow our team to concentrate on the oval hurdle course ahead of our final fixture of the season.
"Both the long and short-range weather forecasts indicate that we are due very little, if any rainfall, between now and racing. Given the unique layout of the two separate tracks here at Fontwell Park, this move will give the grounds team an opportunity to dedicate the time and resource we need to ably prepare the surface as best we can.
"Equally, we hope that by making this decision early we can give owners and trainers as much time as possible to consider their options regarding where to run in the coming weeks."
The first of the six races scheduled at the time of writing is at 6.10pm next Friday with the last at 9.00pm.