HORSE RACING: Newbury officials bid to salvage 'Super Saturday' (From Swindon Advertiser)

HORSE RACING: Newbury officials bid to salvage 'Super Saturday'

7:00am Saturday 11th February 2012 in Local

OFFICIALS at Newbury are in discussions with the British Horseracing Authority in an attempt to save the major races from today’s abandoned meeting.

The ‘Betfair Super Saturday’ fixture was due to see the likes of Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Long Run and exciting novices Grands Crus and Sprinter Sacre in action, but snow on the track has beaten the card.

With the Cheltenham Festival now little over a month away, every effort will be made to rearrange these crucial events.

Newbury’s managing director Stephen Higgins said: “Following significant snowfall on Thursday night, and following an inspection of the course this morning and with temperatures predicted to plummet this evening the decision has been made to abandon tomorrow’s fixture.

“This is an important fixture in the racing calendar and we will be entering into talks with the BHA, The Levy Board and Betfair on the possibility of restaging some of the races.”

Newbury’s abandonment means a valuable card at Musselburgh will fly the flag for National Hunt racing in Britain on Saturday.

The Scottish circuit is frost-free and no problems are anticipated.

There is still a chance of jumps racing taking place tomorrow, with Exeter due to stage a precautionary inspection at 8am.

• NICKY Henderson has entered Binocular, Oscar Whisky and Simonsig in the Victor Chandler Morebattle Hurdle at Kelso on Wednesday.

Henderson has made no secret of the fact that he is running out of options for his star two-mile hurdlers and Binocular was due to run at Sandown last week before it was abandoned.

The Seven Barrows handler may be wary of a trip to the Borders track, however, as he sent Zaynar up for the same race in 2010 only for him to come up short at odds of 1-14 against Quwetwo.

• ROBERT Thornton will return to the saddle at Folkestone on Tuesday.

Alan King’s stable jockey has been out of action since December 11 with a fractured arm, but been given the all-clear to resume his season.

He tweeted: “It’s official cleared to ride from Tuesday 14th.”

The Barbury Castle trainer was delighted at the news and was amazed at the speed of Thornton’s healing capabilities.

“The good thing is that the horses seem to be still in top order, and we received some more encouraging news this week when ‘Choc’ (Thornton) got the all-clear to return to race-riding at Folkestone next Tuesday,” King said.

“That would be just nine weeks to the day since his surgery, which is quite remarkable. They were initially talking three months, and, while ‘Choc’ is renowned for being a quick healer, it is quite extraordinary that he has got back so fast.”