Beloved Cheltenham Festival race ABANDONED as punters gutted with start times changed for EVERY race

A highlight of the Cheltenham Festival has been scrapped due to the downpour which has rained down on Prestbury Park with start times changing.

The Cross Country – or the 4.10 on a Wednesday to older punters – has been wiped from the day two schedule as the specialist course has been left sodden amid double the downpour than was expected this week. The race clerk had hopes it could be rescheduled for Friday but those ambitions were dashed as the rain refused to slow.

Delta Work was the favourite to win but was expected to face a fight from Rachael Blackmore's Minella Indo and Coko Beach. However, the race will not happen this year with concerns the ground was too dangerous and they have moved early to reduce day two to a six race card. A statement read: "Following 11mm of rainfall throughout yesterday, there has been no improvement in the conditions on the Cross-Country course and with areas of the track unraceable, the Glenfarclas Cross-Country Chase has sadly been abandoned. The forecast for the remainder of the week continues to look unsettled, with further showers likely on both Thursday and Friday.

15 best Cheltenham Festival Day 1 pictures as Celtic supremo Dermot Desmond and Graeme Souness join royalty

"There will therefore be insufficient improvement to the Cross-Country course by Friday, March 15 and the decision has been taken not to reschedule the Glenfarclas Cross-Country Chase at The Festival. As a result of the abandonment of the 5th race today, the revised race times for Wednesday, March 13 are as follows:Race 1: 1345, Race 2: 1430, Race 3: 1515, Race 4: 1600, Race 5: NA, Race 6: 1650, Race 7: 1730."

Follow Record Sport on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for all of the up-to-the minute breaking news,