Ayr Racecourse: Additional National Hunt meeting on Friday

An additional National Hunt fixture has been scheduled at Ayr on Friday after several recent abandonments.

The British Horseracing Authority has announced entries for the meeting will close at noon on Tuesday.

And declarations at the 24-hour stage will take place as normal on Thursday morning.

"We have lost a substantial number of jump fixtures in the north in recent weeks," said BHA race-planning executive Nick Dartnall.

"And following requests from northern trainers and discussions with northern racecourses, [we] felt that we should support the region if at all possible by providing an additional opportunity.

"It is quite unusual for us to stage an additional fixture on a day where we already expect to fulfil the betting criteria, but in the circumstances we felt it was the right decision so will now stage four fixtures this Friday."