RACING at Hexham yesterday was abandoned after the first race because of the treacherous state of the course.

Overnight showers on top of firm ground made the course extremely slippery and Miss Impulse, one of three runners in the opening Buchanan Original Juvenile Novices' Hurdle, came to grief approaching the turn to the second last flight.

Tom Dascombe, her jockey, reported: "She lost her hind legs on the slippery ground. It's dangerous out there and the stewards have made the right decision not to carry on."

Clerk of the course Charles Enderby, said: "It's very sad. The problem is that we didn't have enough rain. We had a light shower at six last night and another this morning, but it wasn't enough to get into the ground."

Although only one event took place, trainer John O'Shea and conditional jockey Michael Brennan were well satisfied. They landed the prize with Royal Rapport, who beat the odds on favourite Kernof by five lengths.