Inspection to take place at Newbury

THE prospect of continued wintry weather is giving officials a headache at Newbury and Cheltenham - where high-profile meetings are due to take place on Tuesday and New Year’s Day.

The card meeting at Newbury, set to feature the Grade One MansionBet Challow Novices’ Hurdle, is subject to a precautionary inspection this morning because of the threat of frost.

The Dornan Engineering Relkeel Hurdle is Friday’s feature at Cheltenham - where the going is currently heavy, waterlogged in places, with colder weather bringing sleet and snow expected this week.

While Newbury clerk of the course Keith Ottesen reports the Berkshire track to be perfectly raceable at present, the threat of an overnight frost and possible wintry showers has prompted him to call an 8.30am check, with the going currently soft.

He said: “We have covered the racing lines on both the hurdles and chase tracks. It might drop to 0C or -1C, with daytime temperatures of 2C or 3C - so pretty similar to today really, with the possibility of some wintry showers.

“We are perfectly raceable today - and the inspection is purely precautionary - but there is no point in being complacent, so we will have a look in the morning.”

At Cheltenham, clerk of the course Simon Claisse, described the forecast as “concerning”.

The track has been hit with 110 millimetres of rain since the last meeting there on December 12. The further worry for officials is that sleet and snow is forecast, with overnight frosts and daytime temperatures of 3C.