'Hopeful' Wincanton calls fourth inspection

This afternoon's meeting at Wincanton is subject to a fourth inspection at midday. Officials at the track were on frost alert this morning after overnight temperatures dropped to minus 4C. Although the track was "80 per cent raceable" following an initial precautionary inspection at 8am, further checks at 9.30am and 11am proved inconclusive. Racing is due to get under way at 1.40pm and clerk of the course Barry Johnson is keen to give the fixture every chance. He said: "Temperatures have risen to to 4C, the sun is out and we're now 95 per cent raceable. "We're going to have another look at 12pm and I'm hopeful we'll be able to say we're raceable by then. "If things are still up in the air, we'll have to get trainers and jockeys out here (on the course) and see whether they are happy to carry on."