PROVISIONAL ALL-CHASE CARD PROGRAMMED FOR SANDOWN PARK ON SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 2ND, 2013

30 Jan 2013 Pre-2014 Releases

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has programmed a provisional all-Chase card for Sandown on Saturday, February 2nd, in an attempt to safeguard this fixture. This will consist of the three Chases originally scheduled plus three additional Steeple Chase opportunities. Sandown’s going is currently described as Soft, Heavy in Places on the Chase course and Heavy, Soft in Places, with some waterlogging, on the Hurdles course.

All additional races will be free to enter and a final decision on whether the existing hurdle races will be abandoned and the provisional chases activated, will be made at 3pm on Thursday, January 31st.

The provisional, additional Steeple Chases will close at noon on Thursday, January 31st.

Should these races subsequently be activated, they will close for declarations at 10am on Friday, February 1st.

Head of Racing and Clerk of the Course at Sandown, Andrew Cooper, reported:

“Since the thaw at the weekend we have seen over 30mm of rain at Sandown Park. As a result parts of the Hurdle Course are saturated and false in places. The Chase course, as is invariably the case here, is better and whilst very soft would be raceable today.

“In order to give ourselves the best chance of staging a day’s racing here on Saturday we have asked the BHA to provisionally schedule an all Chase card with 6 races. A decision will be made by 3pm on Thursday on whether the existing Hurdle races will be abandoned and the provisional Chases activated.

“We are expecting both Wednesday and Thursday to be mainly dry with a risk of showers, but most forecasts are suggesting that Friday will be a very wet day for us, with up to 25mm possible.”

A provisional, revised running order follows further below.

Sandown Park, Saturday, February 2nd, provisional running order for an all-Chase card:

1:50 00674 The Betfred ‘The Home Of Goals Galore’ Handicap Steeple Chase (Class 2)
2:25 00673 The Betfred Mobile Lotto Challengers Novices’ Steeple Chase (Class 1) (Grade 1)
3:00 00678 The Betfred ‘The Bonus King’ Veterans’ Handicap Steeple Chase (Class 2)
3:35 00671 The Betfred Masters Handicap Steeple Chase (Class 2)
4:10 00679 The Betfred ‘Double Delight’ Novices’ Handicap Steeple Chase (Class 3)
4:40 00670 The Betfred ‘Hat Trick Heaven’ Handicap Steeple Chase (Class 4)