Weather watch: High winds cause concerns for courses across Britain
By Harry Allwood
Last Updated: Tue 5 Dec 2023
Clerks of the course across Britain are monitoring the weather closely as the threat of high winds forecast cause concern for racing on Saturday.
Gusts are forecast to reach up to 50mph at Chelmsford and the Essex venue has been forced to abandon the live music after racing today on "technical and safety grounds" with breezy conditions expected to continue into the evening.
However, racing is still set to go ahead at Chelmsford, although may be under threat if winds prove to be stronger than forecast.
High winds in the region of 40mph are also forecast at Haydock and Lingfield this afternoon.
The going is now soft all over at Haydock and officials are keeping a close eye on conditions at the Merseyside venue.
There are already a number of non-runners - which can be found here - including Wissahickon in the Rose of Lancaster Stakes.
The full force of the breezy weather is expected to hit Lingfield this afternoon, but the track does not anticipate any issues with the first of seven races getting underway at 5.10pm, and the wind predicted to ease below 20mph from 4pm.
Lingfield tweeted at 10am this morning: “Based on the current forecast, today’s event with Jess Glynne performing after racing will go ahead.”
The are no issues expected at any of the other meetings in Britain today, including Ascot who host the Shergar Cup where the ground is good, good to firm in places following 2mm of rain overnight.
Although it will be breezy at the Berkshire venue this afternoon, no further rain is forecast.
Ayr, who stage a seven-race card today, is one of two meetings live on Racing TV this evening and the going is heavy with 15mm of rain falling at the track in the past 24 hours.
Winds could reach up to 31mph at Newmarket where the Group Three Sweet Solera Stakes takes centre stage.
However, the going remains good to firm, good in places, although there is the potential of showers this afternoon.
The going at Redcar is good, good to soft in places after 15mm of rain since Thursday. A further 4mm of rain could fall before lunchtime with showers forecast this afternoon and winds predicted to be around 25-30mph.
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