The cold spell of weather which hit the country earlier in February led to the cancellation of many National Hunt fixtures and even a few all weather Flat meetings had to be cancelled due to snow at Newcastle and a frozen track at Chelmsford.
With it looking increasingly likely there won’t be any crowds allowed on racecourses for some time, the big National Hunt festivals at Cheltenham and Aintree look set to be staged behind closed doors and that could even be the case heading into the Flat season with the Derby meeting at Epsom and Royal Ascot unlikely to be open for paying spectators.
The lack of crowds means a lack of income for racecourses which will continue to have a knock on effect on prize money which when compared to other major racing nations is already low.
There will, however, be plenty of prize money on offer at Lingfield Park on April 2 when All-Weather Finals Day takes place, the richest days racing on the all-weather in Europe. Horses who have a high enough rating having raced three times during the all-weather season, which began on October 20, or who have won a Fast Track Qualifier during the season are eligible to take part. There are four Fast Track Qualifiers with each of the six categories. Three-Year-Olds, Sprint, Fillies & Mares, Mile, Middle Distance and Marathon, and the winners of these qualifiers are guaranteed a run in their respective final.
Three-Year-Olds
Three of the four qualifiers have been run, Significantly won the first on the opening day of the season at Newcastle, Victory Heights took the second at Wolverhampton in early December and Mighty Gurkha was successful in the most recent one at Kempton on January 25.
Denne historien er fra March 2021-utgaven av Racing Ahead.
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Denne historien er fra March 2021-utgaven av Racing Ahead.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
LOOKING BRIGHT FOR IRISH STARS
Karl Hedley reports as jumps challengers pile on the heat across the water
WELL SET TO STEP AHEAD
Ben Morgan has ten warming prospects to follow in the coming weeks
CUE FOR MANY A CELEBRATION
Graham Buddry recalls the life and times of jumps legend Cue Card
KID KAN DOO FOR NICHOLLS
Paul Jacobs casts a close eye over leading picks for this month's big races
TWISTER RUNS MASTER CLASS
John Anthony watches Nigel Twiston-Davies' star catch time judges' eye
NO LEAVES ON LINE TO SLOW THESE FLYERS
Simon Nott enjoys a West Country Weekend catching up with ring pals
EXPECTATIONS SOAR AT RIDGE
Nick Townsend talks to rising Newmarket training star James Owen
KID KAN DOO FOR NICHOLLS
Paul Jacobs casts a close eye over leading picks for this month's big races
NORMA'S COLOURS ARE FLYING PROUD
Robert Cooper sees Percy Willis and Kaadam grace white and green spots and red cap
CHIANTI FLOWS AS NEW LION GROWLS
Prior to the National Hunt season 'proper' getting underway at Chepstow the question on many people's lips was whether or not Willie Mullins would target a second consecutive British trainers' title.