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Cold snap: Warwick abandoned as host of inspections called

By Racing TV

Last Updated: Tue 5 Dec 2023

(Photo: PA)

Thursday afternoon’s meeting at Warwick has been abandoned due to a frozen track.

A precautionary inspection had been called by clerk of the course Tom Ryall for 8am, however, that was brought forward.

Just after 7am Ryall and his team of staff were able to make an early call as temperatures had dropped to a bitterly cold minus 7.4C overnight, meaning there was very little chance of a thaw occurring given the maximum daytime temperature predicted was just 2C.

Racing goes ahead at Taunton, where, despite the mercury dropping down to around minus 2.5C, the forecasted 4/5C for after daybreak means there is little concern.

Newcastle had originally called a precautionary inspection for 7.30am but that has subsequently been pushed back until 8.30am with patches of ground frozen under the frost sheets.

The going update read: “Currently a leaf frost under the covers with temperatures down to minus 1.3C overnight last night. Forecast to go above freezing from 10am today. Cold and bright with a chance of light wintery showers through the afternoon. Frost sheets deployed and will stay down until after daybreak.”

Racing goes ahead in Ireland on Thursday, with Clonmel passing its inspection.

Cheltenham’s big two-day meeting hangs in the balance with a precautionary inspection called for 7.30am on Friday. The track states that The New Course has been under frost covers since Wednesday and is currently raceable ahead of forecast temperatures of -4 tonight. forecast to drop to -4 tonight.

The sole race on the Cross Country course at Cheltenham - the opening contest on Friday's card - has already beeen cancelled after a 1pm inspection on Thursday found frozen ground without the prospect of any significant change.

Bangor’s meeting on Friday needs to pass an 8am precautionary inspection, while Navan’s card on Saturday is subject to a 12pm precautionary inspection on Friday.

Clerk of the course Paddy Graffin said: “The ground at Navan is yielding to soft. We will have fresh ground on the hurdle track on Saturday however due to the forecast for widespread frost over the coming days there will a precautionary inspection at 12pm on Friday to determine the prospect for racing on Saturday.”

Prospects already look bleak ahead of Carlisle’s fixture on Sunday with an inspection called for 8.30am on Friday. Temperatures reached minus 9C in the back straight on Wednesday night.

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