Sandown Looking At Hosting All Chase Card On Saturday

Sandown

Sandown racecourse on Saturday are looking at changing their original fixture to an all chase card which would also incorporate the rescheduled Cotswold Chase that was cancelled on Saturday at Cheltenham.

The Esher based course is currently left with a tricky situation with only three of the races planned for Saturday being over fences and currently the hurdles track that makes up four contests on the rest of the card is waterlogged in patches in the home straight.

The chase course is currently race-able and this could mean that to avoid another cancelled race-day the meeting could be changed to an all chase card which would have to see races over fences added.

The Cotswold Chase is certainly an event that would be welcomed by the track that plans to go ahead with its feature meeting which includes the Grade One Virgin Bet Scilly Isles Novices' Chase, but they will need to add three more.

ITV are set to show live racing from the track so officials at the course are looking to add some high class events that will bring in a good standard of talent to the events.

(Credit Racing Post) Clerk of the course Andrew Cooper said: "It's better for us to get some racing on than none and we're giving thought to having an all-chase card.

"We've done it with this card in the past and it's an option but no decision will be taken for at least 24 hours. We want to give the hurdle course every chance but this is a possibility, for sure.

"We're in discussions with the BHA. If we did go down the route we'd need to find three additional steeplechases, at least, and a couple that merit ITV coverage – which the Cotswold Chase is.

"We've got to be realistic, our best means of assisting will be on the steeplechase front."