The upcoming Welsh Racing Festival at Chepstow has been altered to an entirely hurdles-based meeting due to ongoing drought conditions, the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) announced. Originally planned as a three-day event featuring both hurdle and chase races, the festival will now exclude all chase fixtures as the ground remains too firm for safe jumping over fences.

The Welsh Champion Hurdle remains one of the marquee races of the festival. Last year’s winner, Celtic Dino, is among the expected contenders. The hurdles course has held up well, benefiting from regular watering throughout the summer, enabling those races to proceed as planned. However, the chase track, while still fast, has not been adequately softened and deemed unsuitable for fence jumping, prompting the BHA to implement contingency measures.

Ben Cook, racing director for Arena Racing, commented on the situation, saying the team had worked diligently to prepare the courses but were ultimately unable to overcome the effects of the dry weather. The drought has also led to additional disruptions in the racing calendar, with Wednesday’s meeting at Warwick cancelled and Ludlow’s October 7 card abandoned.

These changes underscore the challenges that persist in preparing courses safely amid prolonged dry conditions, impacting the early stages of the new National Hunt season. Organizers continue to monitor weather and ground conditions closely as they seek to balance the welfare of horses and jockeys with the demands of the racing schedule.