Small fields support the case for cut in fixtures

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At Lingfield and Southwell yesterday there were only 41 and 49 runners respectively for a total of 14 races, while at Southwell only seven bookies were taking bets from a tiny crowd in Tattersalls.

Aon ace: Denman will continue his Gold Cup build-up at Newbury on Saturday

Today there are just 35 runners at Market Rasen for its six-race card. Under BAGS arrangements off-course bookmakers pay less when there are less than eight runners per race.

The Fixture List review currently being undertaken by the BHA will be ready for debate in March when recommendations will be sidered. With new racecourses such as Great Leighs and Ffos Las coming on stream it is hard to visualise a drop in meetings.

Will Lambe, the BHA spokesman, said: "This year we have more all-weather meetings because of the evening opening of betting shops and that has thinned out the number of runners.

"It is appropriate we take stock of the ongoing situation and Southwell today is one of the reasons why the Fixture List analysis was launched."

In fairness to Southwell the fixture was swapped from Wolverhampton because of refurbishment work to the latter track. It was not in most racing diaries.

Nevertheless, the ever increasing number of meetings for a prizemoney pot which is £5.5million lower this year due to the fall in Levy is just not sustainable.

Meanwhile, Denman faces a maximum of eight rivals in the Aon Chase at Newbury on Saturday in his build-up to the Gold Cup. Although stable companion Kauto Star is declared he will not take part unless something untoward happens to Denman.

Denman's trainer Paul Nicholls, who also has totesport Trophy favourite Five Dream running at Newbury, said: "Kauto Star is in as an insurance policy. They are both 100 per cent at the moment and the Aon looks the ideal race for Denman."