An impromptu 8.30am inspection was called just after 6.30am as 12 millimetres of rain had fallen on already soft ground.

However, by 8.15am the decision had already been taken to call the meeting off with no sign of the rain abating and to compound matters strong winds are forecast later in the afternoon.

Dan Skelton's Bennys King landed a nice pot at Newbury during the Ladbrokes Trophy meeting but will return 15lb higher in the weights on Saturday after another good run at Ascot last time out.

Skelton's former boss Paul Nicholls has so often dominated the race - and he has last year's winner San Benedeto, Secret Investor and Mont Des Avaloirs among the 13-strong field this time.

Skelton said: "Bennys King definitely runs there.

"He won at the Ladbrokes Winter Festival - then he ran well at Ascot. I think this track is perfect, and a bit of soft ground over the trip won't be a problem.

"He is quite high in the weights, but I would have to give him a chance because we have trained him specifically for it."

Skelton was Nicholls' assistant for nine years, so he knows what is required to win the race.

"Paul used to win the race every year - and if he didn't win it he would win it the year after," he said.

"The Greatwood Gold Cup is a good race for horses that aren't going to Cheltenham, and we never really were going to Cheltenham with Bennys King.

"It fits in well - it's graded and is worth a few quid, so we will crack on and give it a go."