ASCOT’S big weekend of racing is already at threat of being axed – but punters have shared a clever idea for how it could go ahead.
Saturday’s Grade 1 Long Walk Hurdle is the main attraction on a strong card.
But with ice, snow and frozen ground causing fixture chaos, a post from Ascot’s Twitter account this morning showed already bosses are facing up to the fear the meeting could be cancelled.
However, punters have come up with a suggestion which could still see racing this weekend.
They say Ascot should cherry pick the best eight to ten races from their proposed Friday and Saturday meetings.
And move them all to Sunday, when there is a chance the ground will have thawed out enough for racing to take place.
The post from Ascot read: “We are working hard to ensure the Howden Christmas Racing Weekend can go ahead this weekend.
“The recent cold weather and forecast is challenging though and the track is currently frozen in places with a light covering of snow.
“Further updates will be provided throughout the week.”
But one punter said in reply: “Hoping a ten-race card on Sunday is one of the options being considered given probability of Friday and Saturday going ahead is minimal.
“Big opportunity to prove flexibility can be achieved in such circumstances, suspect a large crowd would be attend post-rail strikes Fri/Sat.”
Another wrote: “Doesn’t sound promising, however temperatures are forecast to rise on Sunday, surely we can cherry pick the best eight races from two days and run them as one meeting on Sunday?
“Come on @BHAHorseracing. Let’s see some initiative.”
Another wrote: “Move it to Sunday best bet.”
And in reply to one of the suggestions, another punter commented: “That time at Cheltenham when they had nine or ten-race cards was ace. Great shout.”
There will be no jumps racing in Britain until Thursday at the earliest.
Monday meetings at Market Rasen and Plumpton have been abandoned.
Tuesday’s action from Catterick and Wincanton has been axed, along with Wednesday’s Newbury card.
While Exeter’s final meeting of 2022 is up in the air and Ffos Las have the frost covers out for their card, also on Thursday.
Even the all-weather has not proved immune to the bone-chilling cold snap, with Newcastle scrappings its racing last weekend.
Among the big names set to race at Ascot are Nicky Henderson’s unbeaten mare Luccia in the Grade 2 Novices’ Hurdle on Friday and Paul Nicholls’ Hitman on the same card.
Saturday is set to see an epic rematch between Champ and Paisley Park in the Grade 1 Long Walk Hurdle.
The veteran duo locked horns in an amazing finish at Newbury last month, with Champ just prevailing.
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