News round-upTipperary`s meeting on Sunday has been abandoned after an inspection of the course yesterday found it to be unfit for racing after the recent bad weather.
The meeting, which features the Group Three Concorde Stakes, will now be staged on the same day - without the two steeplechases - as a seven-race card at Cork.
Hexham became the fourth meeting this week to fall foul of the wet weather when it was abandoned after an inspection yesterday because the course was waterlogged.
Clerk of the Course Charles Enderby explained: 'We had some rain overnight and some drizzle this morning, but the sun was out early this afternoon so we gave it every chance.
'However the ground was worse than it was at the same time yesterday and the meeting was abandoned by the order of the stewards.'
Hamilton on Monday, Newcastle on Thursday and yesterday`s Nottingham meeting were also called off because of waterlogging.
Redcar Clerk of the CourseJohn Gundill is keeping his fingers crossed that there is no more rain at the Cleveland venue which is due to stage the #100,000 betabet.com Two-Year-Old Trophy on Saturday.
Small but select fields appear to be the order of the weekend at Longchamp with the news that just four runners will contest the Group Two Prix Dollar tomorrow.
And three of the quartet bidding for glory hail from British stables.
Godolphin will be represented by 1999 Grand Prix de Paris winner Slickly (Frankie Dettori) and joining him will be Winter Hill Stakes first and second, the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Adilabad (Gerald Mosse) and Marcus Tregoning`s Albarahin (Willie Supple).
Albarahin has already arrived in France and Tregoning said: 'It is not the size of the field which counts really, it is more the quality of the opposition - and of course Adilabad who beat him at Windsor runs.
'The more rain the better as far as we are concerned because I think it will help Albarahin more than the others. We can`t say if he will turn the tables on Adilabad, but our horse is in good form and we are hoping he will run extremely well.'
The Andre Fabre-trained Sobieski represents the home defence.
Godolphin`s Inaaq (Dettori) and the John Gosden-trained Limelighting (Olivier Peslier) compete in the Group Two Prix de Royallieu for fillies and mares.
Richard Hannon`s King O`The Mana (Mosse), Sean Woods` Riddlesdown (Thierry Thulliez) and the Mick Channon-trained Talaash (Dettori), contest the Group Two Prix Hubert de Chaudenay.
Channon is also represented by Dayglow Dancer (Dettori) in the Group Three Prix de Conde.
The British contingent for the first day of the meeting is completed by Barry Hills` Fame At Last (Christophe Soumillon), John Gosden`s Salee (Dettori) and the Gerard Butler-trained Blusienka (Thulliez), who run in the Listed Prix Charles Laffitte over a mile and a quarter.
Seven racecourses across the UK willbenefit from a major sponsorship deal signed by leading builders merchant Keyline.
The company, which has 70 branches, hosted the meeting at Perth last week and fixtures at Chepstow, Newmarket, Ayr, Warwick, Kempton and Cheltenham (on March 15, Gold Cup day 2001) are included in its programme.
Chepstow director Rod Street, who has represented the course involved in the `six figure deal`, said: 'We are particularly thrilled that this valuable sponsorship opportunity has been taken up by Keyline builders merchants.
'This is a fantastic deal for the industry as the diverse number of racecourses involved will bring real benefits to the racing business.'
Wincanton`s jumping season gets underway next Thursday with the West Country course boasting record prize money of #650,000.
The two miles five furlongs Axminster 100 Desert Orchid South Western Pattern Chase (October 22) and the Badger Beer Handicap Chase (November 4) are both worth #35,000 while the Tanglefoot Elite Hurdle (also November 4) has a total prize fund of #25,000
Clerk of the Course and general manager Ian Renton said: 'It is always tremendously exciting when the new season begins and everyone associated with Wincanton racecourse is looking forward to extending a warm welcome to new and regular racegoers alike
'The record prize money means Wincanton will attract good horses and top jockeys.'
Mick Channon`s Shuwaib (Robert Havlin) will be the sole foreign runner in the Group Two German St Leger at Dortmund on Sunday.
A listed winner at Deauville in August, Shuwaib subsequently finished fourth to Epitre in the five runner Group Three Prix de Lutece at Longchamp.
A field of eight have been declared for the one mile and three-quarters race including the progressive Sword Local. -PA
