Partly-frozen Ascot to stage inspection before Clarence House fixture

The big jumps meeting at Ascot on Saturday is subject to a 6.30am course inspection on raceday morning.Though the track is now completely covered with frost covers, the ground remains soft, frozen in places.And with temperatures set to drop to well below freezing on Saturday morning, clerk of the course Chris Stickels must assess conditions before daybreak.A statement issued by Ascot read: " Forecast to be mainly dry and cold.Temperatures down to minus 2C at 7am this morning. They were minus 4Covernight to Thursday and minus4.5C overnight to Wednesday. "(The) coursehas some frozen patches at present Friday 7am. The wholetrack is now covered with frost covers. The forecast is forfreezing temps again, minus 3C, on Saturday morning." Ascot's card is due to feature the Grade One Clarence House Chase, in which Irish challenger Un De Sceaux bids for back-to-back victories.