Towcester have still not finalised dates for the Oaks with the fixture falling foul of the GBGB rules on open race competitions.

Racing manager Chris Page said: “We want to stage it as a 48-runner event, but because of our racing schedule, it would mean running of four consecutive Saturdays, which you are not allowed to do.

“The situation hasn’t occurred before because of the SKY meetings, with the finals normally staged on a Tuesday. We simply don’t have a midweek meeting to fit in the extra round.

“There is an option to stage it as a 36 runner event. But we would rather have 48 and whether that would suit the sponsors is a another issue. It would be financial madness to run an additional midweek meeting for a 48 runner event without extra bookmaker funding.

“At this stage we are still talking to GBGB, but I can see their problem too. If they gave us dispensation, others would want it and then the whole calendar is thrown into turmoil.”