At the end of the day the Race Controller decides when they get up. If as you say there were thunder storms just hours before lib then he should have that info and be able to make a decision based on it, but the SNFC racing has been shambolic year on year not just from Reims this year. They already lost a HUGE MAJORITY of the Messac birds the year Davy Elliot won it. There are plenty of examples of bad controlling from then until now and the same men are still in place making bad decisions that are costing fanciers Years of work put into their Doos tae get them ready for these races. A know fine it's a thankless job before the bandwagon starts but a man should know his limitations and do the right thing.