Racecourse manager Christian Leech said an inspection had been called because the course was not drying as quickly as had been hoped.

"It is drying but not as quickly as we had hoped," he said.

"We will try and give it every chance and will keep people informed.

"The going is still heavy, waterlogged in places and the main problem is between the last two fences which is entirely underwater at the moment."

The card is set to feature the return to action of the Francois Doumen-trained Baracouda, impressive winner of the Long Walk Hurdle, in the Michael Page Technology Novices' Trial Hurdle.