Wet weather sweeping through Britain is causing havoc with racing. Both the jumps meeting at Wetherby and the all-weather Flat card at Southwell were abandoned yesterday because of heavy rain.

Wetherby was called off due to water-logging following a 7.30 a.m. inspection while a downpour at Southwell left conditions unsafe for racing. The rain left standing water on the track and officials called an inspection for 1.30 p.m.

Two further inspections took place as the track began to dry out but after consultation with senior jockeys and trainers the stewards decided to call the card off.

"The jockeys said there were inconsistencies where the ground was drying out quicker in some places than others," explained clerk of the course Mike Prosser. Similar problems have afflicted two of today's three meetings. Heavy rain has put Catterick in doubt and an inspection takes place there at 7.30 a.m. There is standing water on the course and there is further rain forecast.

The first day of Perth's three-day spring festival is subject to a 7.15 a.m. inspection. Officials inspected the course yesterday afternoon and were scheduled to have another look at 7.15 a.m. However officials are very hopeful that racing will go ahead as planned at Epsom.

Officials at Beverley hold an inspection at 9.0 a.m. today to see if tomorrow's meeting can go ahead.

Tomorrow's meeting at Ballinrobe has been called off but the fixture could yet be re-scheduled for Saturday week, either at Ballinrobe or another track.

Aidan O'Brien's 1,000 Guineas candidate Inkling has been retired and is being lined up to visit the stallion Sadlers Wells. The Seeking the Gold filly won her only start at The Curragh last September but sustained an injury last weekend which has ended her racing career.