Events / Joe Dyer / 05 February 2009 /

Aon Chase and Irish Hennessy Gold Cup both in danger after three inches of snow drop on Berkshire course while flurries continue over Leopardstown.

On Wednesday night, prospects looked good for Newbury and racing to take place there on Saturday was backed at a low of [1.4] on Betfair.

But following three inches of snow overnight, racing to be abandoned is now trading at [1.5] on Betfair, with the meeting to beat the weather available at [2.5].

Meanwhile at Leopardstown, prospects appear to have worsened ahead of their scheduled Hennessy Gold Cup meeting on Sunday, and there is an inspection currently taking place.

Racecourse manager Tom Burke revealed that the course was unraceable on Wednesday, and news that the course has been hit with further snow and sleet showers today is clearly unwelcome.

Betfair's market on whether racing will go ahead there on Sunday has reacted, and "No" was trading at just [2.2], with "Yes'" trading at [1.78], when the Betfair market was suspended at the start of today's 11am inspection.

Betfair spokesman Tony Calvin commented: "It looks grim for the big weekend meetings, but no doubt the prices will continue to fluctuate wildly as the weather updates come in.

"In fact, I have just spoken to our Irish office, based just two minutes from Leopardstown racecourse, and it is beginning to snow very heavily once again there, so that may be well odds-on to be abandoned before long, too.

"The Foxrock venue is known to be a fast-draining course but it will need to be for racing to survive."

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