RACING fans were left utterly bemused as fog sparked chaos during the Welsh Grand National.
The blockbuster Chepstow card was given the go ahead earlier today despite the track being shrouded in fog.
But conditions worsened during the afternoon, prompting mass uproar as fans tuned in to ITV to watch the big race of the day.
The ITV commentary crew were left with an almost impossible task, barely able to see what was going on in front of them.
Football commentator Ian Darke hailed ITV’s racing commentator Mark Harris for his stellar efforts during the race, posting on X: “Nightmare conditions with the horses barely visible most of the time. Called it brilliantly.”
https://twitter.com/itvracing/status/1872658692551663730As Val Dancer romped home to win the historic race, Harris exclaimed “you’re just going to have to trust us here”, much to the delight of the thousands watching at home.
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Concerns had arisen earlier in the day over whether it was even safe for racing to continue, with punters venting their frustrations on X.
One wrote: “Its an absolute shambles. Call the meeting off, you are ripping off the on course paying punters blind with this!”
A second said: “The meeting should be abandoned, how can anyone see what’s even happening? ”
Another moaned: “Weather is crazy. I can’t see anything.”
One more wrote: “Just watched the racing from Chepstow and you can’t hardly see the horses .”
Chepstow wasn’t the only place affected by fog, however, as the weather caused issues across much of the UK both on Boxing Day and on Friday 27th.
Fans fumed at Liverpool’s “unwatchable” game against Leicester on Boxing Day.
The Premier League leaders came from behind to beat the Foxes 3-1 at Anfield amid heavy fog in Merseyside.
Multiple racecourses struggled with fog yesterday, with the beginning of Aintree’s card delayed and Leopardstown having to pause a portion of its meeting during the afternoon.
Motorists should only travel between Kilgetty and Red Roses in south east Wales if “absolutely necessary”, local cops said.
And the Met Office said murky fog patches could settle on roads across the country.
The RAC said Brits will make a whopping 3.8million road trips today as they head home from Christmas getaways.
Thick cloud will continue for much of the UK tonight, with mist and fog lingering in England and Wales.
