Sandown’s blockbuster Tingle Creek card is ON after surviving second check despite Storm Darragh battering UK sport

SANDOWN’S blockbuster Tingle Creek card has been cleared to go ahead as planned today – despite the chaos caused by Storm Darragh.

The course passed its second inspection at 9:30am this morning as 90mph high winds and safety fears cause havoc with sporting fixtures across the UK.

Sandown’s Tingle Creek card has passed its second inspection

https://twitter.com/Sandownpark/status/1865330154555191386

Storm Darragh is devastating parts of the country, with several services being disrupted.

But the racing at Surrey’s Sandown course has been given the seal of approval, despite both Aintree and Chepstow abandoning ship.

Sandown Park wrote: “Following our 9:30am inspection, the track and conditions are currently safe for racing.

“We will continue to monitor the forecast and conditions.”

It comes two hours after the first inspection passed as the Claremont Novices’ Hurdle is now set to get underway at 12:08pm.

However, the track side screens will not be in operation due to potential wind gusts, but the parade ring screen will show the action.

And fans are split on the decision to not cancel the weekend.

One wrote: “Looking forward to the two and three runner fields. If it was ever in doubt, this is purely a financial decision.”

Another said: “Surely not. I guarantee it will be called off before 12pm.”

Storm Darragh LATEST – Live updates as UK sport is battered by 92mph winds

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While another said: “Great news! I’m here the course, and it’s not too bad. Think we’ve had the worst of it.”

But millions in South West England have since been told to stay at home by an emergency mobile alert.

The Met Office has issued a red warning

The Surrey track itself is fine for racing but punters brave enough to attend will face 60mph winds whipping through the venue.

Yet spectators will now have the chance to see Champion Chase favourite Jonbon defend his Tingle Creek crown.

Sandown currently falls under the banner of a yellow weather warning, issued by the Met Office.

The wind gusts are currently between 53 and 60mph, with absolutely no let up by the time the first is off after midday.

Chepstow, which stages the Welsh Grand National Trial, was called off after the precautionary inspection at 7.30am this morning.

The going is currently soft and rain is forecast but the danger is once again the prospect of strong winds.

High winds saw a tree ripped up in Surrey – miles away from Sandown

And Aintree’s Becher Chase fixture was also cancelled as the venue deem it “unsafe”, with tickets refunded.

The seven-race fixture at Aintree had been due to feature the handicap chase over the famous Grand National fences.

But the course was in a Met Office amber weather warning for wind and was due to inspect at 7am.

Aintree’s joint-clerk of the course Jon Pullin said: “We arrived at around 5.30am and it was calm then, but it picked up very quickly soon after then and it became obvious that we couldn’t race.

Storm Darragh has left a trail of destruction up and down the country

“Our main concern was about the wings of fences and the safety of people and we’d already started to see significant movement on the likes of wings of fences. It’s obviously disappointing not to race, but it was a clear decision.”

Aintree’s next fixture is set to take place on Boxing Day, but discussions will be had to see if the Becher Chase can be rescheduled.

Meanwhile, the Merseyside derby between Everton and Liverpool has been called off this morning.

An Everton statement read: “Everton’s Premier League fixture against Liverpool, scheduled for 12.30pm (GMT) today, Saturday 7 December, has been postponed.

“Following a Safety Advisory Group meeting at Goodison Park, attended by officials from both clubs, as well as representatives from Merseyside Police and Liverpool City Council this morning, it was decided that, due to the risk to safety in the local area due to strong wind gusts, and an amber severe wind warning that remains in place until 6am on Sunday, today’s fixture should be postponed on safety grounds.”

More to follow… For the latest news on this story keep checking back at The Sun Online

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