Chepstow cancel remaining cards

Chepstow has been forced to abandon the rest of its flat season race meetings as parts of the track are affected by an attack of microscopic worms.

The Bank Holiday Monday fixture had already been moved to Bath, but now the last two meetings have also switched.

Brighton will host the 3 September card while Bath takes the 9 September card.

"We are taking an early decision about the two September meetings," said Jim Allen, the racecourse owners' head of racing development.

"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."

British Horseracing Authority inspector of courses Peter Hobbs visited Chepstow on Monday and said the parasites - called root gall nematodes - are something he had not experienced on a racecourse before.

The nematodes make the soil unstable.

Chepstow's course clerk Keith Ottesen, added: "We have several small areas of turf that are affected.

"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 start of the jumps season which begins on Saturday, 9 October.