Chepstow Changes

Officials at Chepstow have announced that their final two Flat fixtures of the year have been switched to alternative racecourses.

The Welsh venue called off last Thursday's meeting as clerk of the course Keith Ottesen was not happy with some areas of the track and experts have since diagnosed an outbreak of root gall nematodes.

The Bank Holiday Monday fixture has subsequently been switched to Bath and now the meetings on September 3 and September 9, have been moved to Brighton and Bath respectively.

Jim Allen, head of racing development, at racecourse owners Northern Racing, said: "We are taking an early decision about the two September meetings so that owners and trainers can make their running plans with full certainty of where the fixtures will take place.

"We also apologise should these transfers cause anyone inconvenience."

Ottesen added: "We have several small areas of turf that are affected by root gall nematodes.

"We are tackling the issue and seeking to eradicate it, working with agronomists and scientists who are experts in this field."

The next racing scheduled at Chepstow is the first National Hunt fixture on October 9.