Sandown’s Tingle Creek card could be OFF amid safety concerns with Storm Darragh set to decimate racing fixtures

SANDOWN'S blockbuster Tingle Creek card could be OFF amid safety concerns - with Storm Darragh set to hammer the Surrey track and decimate racing fixtures all over the UK.

The track passed a precautionary inspection at 7.30am this morning - but another will be held at 9.30am.

The track itself is fine for racing but doubts remain about the safety of punters and participants with 50mph winds whipping through the venue.

If they deem it unsafe it means punters will be robbed of the chance to see Champion Chase favourite Jonbon defend his Tingle Creek crown.

A statement from the racecourse read: "While racing will go ahead today [Friday], the forecast for tomorrow is for wind speeds in excess of 50mph and up to 10mm of rain before racing.

"With that in mind we have chosen to hold a precautionary inspection at 7.30am and will continue to monitor conditions and the weather forecast.

"The safety of our participants, racegoers and teams on site is our number one priority and we will update everyone as soon as possible."

Sandown currently falls under the banner of a yellow weather warning, issued by the Met Office.

Their forecast shows rain from 5pm tonight until midnight before the heavy stuff is set to fall again from 9am tomorrow.

By that time gusts are predicted to top 53mph, with absolutely no let up by the time the first is off at 12.08pm.

Clerk of the course Andrew Cooper said he will do all he can to ensure racing goes ahead.

He said: "The storm looks like it's on its way to us. It has to be a precautionary inspection tomorrow because at the moment we are good to race.

"It does look as though Storm Darragh is going to get to us and potentially impact us with gusts possibly peaking late morning 50mph-plus.

"A lot of people the last couple days have been asking what do we think is the threshold for wind speed?

"We don't face this situation often - I have done this job 30 years and only on very few occasions have I had to consider high winds.

"But when you hit 50mph gusts then potentially you are in tricky territory and though other places may be worse we could be having those wind speeds from 7am.

"Hence an early look - and we'll look again if we need to. We're desperate to race but we'll have to sit tight.

"The peak time looks to be midday when we start racing. Forecasts and timings fluctuate but it's entirely sensible we take stock as early as we can."

If Storm Darragh hits as hard as is being forecast then Saturday's racing fixtures could be totally decimated.

Unfortunately Aintree was forced to cancel its big Becher Chase card.

While racing at Chepstow was also called off.

Fortunately Wetherby survived an inspection and the action can go ahead.

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