Tag Archive for: Haydock

Passing Well primed for Prestige prize

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Jamie Snowden’s Passing Well will look to continue his progression with a step up in trip for the Albert Bartlett Prestige Novices’ Hurdle at Haydock.

The six-year-old has been making a success of his early hurdling career so far, winning on debut and then finishing fourth when stepped steeply up to Grade One level in the Challow Novices’ Hurdle.

Then returned to slightly less exalted company in a Newcastle novice, the gelding defied a penalty to win comfortably when coming home five and a half lengths ahead of his nearest rival.

The form from the Challow has begun to look increasingly solid in the meantime, with the fifth-placed Marble Sands going on the win the Sidney Banks and Snowden’s own You Wear It Well, second, bolting up in the Grade Two Jane Seymour Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle.

Passing Well holds an entry for the Albert Bartlett, and after this Grade Two the contest could be another stepping stone to a novice chasing campaign for him next season.

Snowden said: “He won very nicely first time out this season, then ran well when fourth in the Challow.

“He won very nicely on his last start under a penalty. He’s in the Albert Bartlett and we’ll have to see where we go with him next, but he’s a very exciting horse and he will be especially so next season when he goes novice chasing.”

Paul Nicholls’ Makin’yourmindup is also due to run in the same race, another step forward in a novice hurdling career that has seen him win twice and then finish second on his most recent start.

The latter performance saw him defeated two lengths on soft ground at Kempton and his trainer is hopeful that a run on better going will be of benefit.

“He shapes like an out-and-out stayer, won his first two starts for us this season and was then far from disgraced when finishing second to Collectors Item at Kempton five weeks ago when he wasn’t suited by the slow pace of the race,” he told Betfair.

“He didn’t enjoy the attritional ground that day and will appreciate a stronger gallop at Haydock in a competitive race.”

Joe Tizzard’s Scarface, Richard Bandey’s Saint Palais and Ben Clarke’s Dr Kananga all line up alongside Collectors Item – the winner of Makin’yourmindup’s last start.

More Grade Two honours are on offer in the Betfred Rendlesham Hurdle, a stayers’ contest run at a trip of just over three miles.

Nick Kent’s Erne River is well-fancied for the race having switched back to hurdles recently, with Venetia Williams’ Green Book also in the reckoning after a valuable success last time out.

The Two Amigos aiming to do Martin proud once more

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Nicky Martin is praying the rain keeps falling for her “little rock star” The Two Amigos who lines up in the Betfred Grand National Trial Handicap Chase at Haydock on Saturday.

The 11-year-old took advantage of a decreased rating to land the Welsh National at Chepstow and now heads to another of his favoured tracks looking to double up in another marathon contest.

That was The Two Amigos’ first win in almost four years and he has been given a chance once again by the handicapper heading to Merseyside off just a 5lb higher rating, while the reports of wet weather in the north west are also exciting Martin.

She said: “He’s my little rock star and hopefully it keeps raining.

“They’ve obviously had rain because the going description has now changed and earlier this week I didn’t think we would be going. But the ground seems to have changed to good to soft and if my weather forecast is correct there is supposed to be further rain to come.

“Chepstow has rejuvenated him and he’s now being really naughty – he’s never been naughty. He’s buzzing. We turned him out the day after the Welsh National and he was full of himself.

“He has just done his normal work for the last five or six weeks and goes there in very good order. We just keep our fingers crossed it goes soft enough.”

Conditional rider David Prichard has been a consistent fixture on board the veteran of late and his 5lb claim allows Martin’s stable stalwart to carry a feather weight once again – something the handler believes is a huge advantage for her pint-sized champion.

“He’s off a good weight again,” she continued. “With David’s claim he’s only got 10st 1lb which I’ve said right from the beginning helps him. He’s a horse who needs little weight in a better race rather than a lot of weight in a lesser quality race. He’s so tiny he just doesn’t cope with a heavy weight now he’s got that little bit older.

David Prichard after winning the Coral Welsh Grand National Handicap Chase on The Two Amigos at Chepstow
David Prichard after winning the Coral Welsh Grand National Handicap Chase on The Two Amigos at Chepstow (David Davies/PA)

“He’s always run well at Haydock when he has completed and he seems to like Haydock like he does Chepstow, so it seems the logical place for us to go.”

Venetia Williams’ Quick Wave was pulled up when 4-1 favourite for the Welsh National won by The Two Amigos and is one of three in the race for the Herefordshire trainer alongside course winner Fontaine Collonges – who is the pick of stable jockey Charlie Deutsch – and Cloudy Glen.

Cloudy Glen runs in the colours of the late Trevor Hemmings, whose racing manager Mick Meagher said: “You’d have to go back to his best form, but if you do he’s finished second in the Kim Muir at Cheltenham and he’s won the Ladbrokes Trophy at Newbury. Those runs are plenty good enough to run and run well in the Grand National, so we’ll see how he goes on Saturday.

“He’s going to be on the borderline with the weights, so he doesn’t want to be losing heavily on Saturday. He’s borderline for the National (on 145), but perhaps with less entries this year you’d hope he’d get in.

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Cloudy Glen in action at Doncaster

Cloudy Glen in action at Doncaster (Tim Goode/PA)[/caption]

“He’s homebred and he was our first big winner after the boss died, so I’d say he means a lot to the family. Hopefully he can run well on Saturday and seal his place in the Grand National. The boss used to love having runners in the National so it would be nice to carry that tradition on.”

Bristol De Mai has a tremendous record at this track and will be relishing the chance to strut his stuff at his favourite venue once more.

Nigel Twiston-Davies’ 12-year-old was seven-lengths second off a 5lb higher mark in this last year before subsequently being promoted to first following the disqualification of The Galloping Bear.

Sue Smith’s Small Present showed his staying prowess when third in the Lincolnshire National at Market Rasen on Boxing Day, while Omar Moretti is given the chance by Alex Hales to build on a respectable comeback run at Ayr last month.

“I’m really looking forward to him and I’m pleased for Haydock the race has stood up,” said Hales.

“He’s in really good form and I said to his owner that he deserves to have a crack at something decent as we feel he is well handicapped at the moment. He is slightly unexposed and we think there is more in him yet.”

Fortescue won at Ascot on this weekend last year and is one of just four in the race to actually hold an entry for Aintree on April 15 along with Quick Wave, Cloudy Glen and Chris Honour’s Grumpy Charly, while Charlie Longsdon’s Snow Leopardess showed glimpses of her old zest when sixth over the cross-country fences at Cheltenham on Trials Day and is now tried in first-time cheekpieces.

[Alan King’s Notachance was third in Warwick’s Classic Chase when last sighted and will be in his element over this extended distance while Richard Hobson is confident Saint Xavier can add to the course victory he secured earlier in the season.

Saint Xavier, here runing at Sandown, was a winner at Haydock earlier in the season
Saint Xavier, here running at Sandown, was a winner at Haydock earlier in the season (Steven Paston/PA)

“He’s in great order. He could do with the ground being a bit softer but I think every horse in that race is in the same boat,” said Hobson.

“To be fair he won at Auteuil on good to soft ground and he also ran a blinder over two and a half miles on good to soft at Cheltenham earlier in the season, so over this trip I’m not overly worried as long as they are making a nice print.

“He’s got to go another two furlongs (than when winning here in November) but if he gets into that cog and a nice rhythm I think he will stay. He’s a rhythm horse.

“He beat The Two Amigos here before he went on to win at Chepstow and he’s a good horse. He could be dangerous off a mark of 128.”

Donald McCain’s course-and-distance winner Tim Pat, the consistent First Lord De Cuet and Jonjo O’Neill’s Time To Get Up complete the line-up.

Lingfield call morning check ahead of Sunday jumps action

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Sunday’s meeting at Lingfield will need to pass a precautionary inspection at 8am on raceday if it is to go ahead.

The feature event of a planned nine-race fixture is the £165,000 Fleur De Lys Chase, with two other hurdles events worth £110,000 and £100,000 also on the card, which is the culmination of the Winter Million weekend.

The first of three days of action was claimed by the weather on Friday but Saturday’s all-weather card went ahead as planned.

While clerk of the course George Hill reported the track to be fit for action on Saturday afternoon, another chilly night is forecast and he admits some luck is required with the course covered overnight.

Lingfield raced on the all-weather track on Saturday
Lingfield raced on the all-weather track on Saturday (Steven Paston/PA)

He told Sky Sports Racing: “We have passed our 4pm inspection, we’re happy with conditions at the moment and we have now got a precautionary inspection for 8am.

“We’ve had a big team on track today. We’ve had a massive group effort with teams from Fontwell, Brighton, Uttoxeter, Windsor, Chepstow, head office – we had about 45-50 people on track, running our all-weather meeting too.

“It’s been pretty busy and hectic on site. Everyone has worked extremely hard and we’re trying out best. We’ve had a great day today and we’re excited for tomorrow.

“We need the better end of the forecast for tonight. It is going to be a cold night, we’ve done our best and covered up (the track), it’s been a big effort and we need the lower end of the forecast to be OK tomorrow morning.

“We will know by 8am what the weather has done, what the forecast is going to do and where we go from there.”

Should Lingfield get the go-ahead, it will break a barren spell for British National Hunt racing, with Hereford the last track to stage turf action on Monday.

Ffos Las has a jumps meeting on Monday
Ffos Las has a jumps meeting on Monday (David Davies/PA)

Saturday’s meetings at Ascot, Haydock and Taunton were all called off due to frozen tracks, while Sunday’s other jumps fixture at Fakenham was also cancelled.

Wolverhampton’s Saturday evening card drew to a close earlier than planned, with fog forcing its abandonment with four races still to run.

Ffos Las is due to race on Monday, with no issues reported at present, but Tuesday’s card at Exeter is subject to a 4pm inspection on Monday.

Leicester and Market Rasen are also scheduled to race over jumps on Tuesday, with both courses currently frozen.

Haydock calls off Peter Marsh Chase card

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Saturday’s meeting at Haydock has been called off due to a frozen track.

Clerk of the course Kirkland Tellwright had planned to hold a precautionary inspection at 8am on raceday to assess conditions ahead of the card, which was set to feature four Grade Two contests including the Peter Marsh Chase.

However, he brought that check forward after temperatures dropped to minus 3c overnight, leaving the course unraceable.

Lingfield hosts the feature all-weather meeting
Lingfield hosts the feature all-weather meeting (Julian Herbert/PA)

Haydock’s cancellation means it will be a fifth day in Britain with no jumps action as Ascot and Taunton had already abandoned, with Lingfield, Southwell and Wolverhampton flying the flag on the all-weather.

Lingfield are also scheduled to hold a classy National Hunt card on Sunday, but that meeting hinges on a 4pm inspection on Saturday.

There will be a jumps meeting in Ireland though, as Navan’s Saturday fixture will go ahead as planned after the chase track was declared fit for action following a morning check.

Epatante has chance to get back to winning ways at Haydock

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With stablemate Constitution Hill safely tucked away in his box, Epatante appears to have been found an excellent opportunity to get back to winning ways in The New One Unibet Hurdle at Haydock on Saturday.

The JP McManus-owned mare is clearly no slouch, with a Champion Hurdle, an Aintree Hurdle, two Christmas Hurdles and two Fighting Fifth Hurdles already in her satchel.

She has proved no match for the magnificent Constitution Hill in either the Fighting Fifth or the Christmas Hurdle so far this season, beaten 12 lengths at Newcastle and 17 at Kempton. But she was comfortably best of the rest on both occasions and is odds-on for this weekend’s Grade Two assignment.

Henderson told Unibet: “I think for all of us the ground is a bit of a worry but there’s nothing we can do about it and at the moment we just have to take what we can.

“She isn’t a gigantic mare but has won on soft ground before so you’d like to think she’ll at least get through it and she’s been in good form at home. She’s been ticking over nicely and this is a good opportunity to give her the chance of winning a race after bumping into Constitution Hill all season.

“It would just be lovely to get her head back in front again and give her some confidence.”

He added: “She had a terrific season last year, winning three Grade Ones, so owes us absolutely nothing, but she still retains all her ability and (for her) it’s a shame a certain horse owned by Michael Buckley has come on the scene because she would’ve already won two Grade Ones this season and likely be favourite for the Unibet Champion Hurdle!”

The highest-rated horse in the field is Jason The Militant, who makes his debut for Phil Kirby after being bought out of Henry de Bromhead’s yard.

The nine-year-old, who won at Grade Three and Grade Two level over hurdles, has also been declared for Lingfield on Sunday – but looks set to head for Merseyside provided the meeting goes ahead.

Kirby said: “He’s settled in grand and he’s been very straightforward. He’s done everything he’s been asked to do and we were hoping for some soft ground this weekend. It looks like we’ve got it, so we just need the racing to be on somewhere.

“We’ve had him around a month or so. He’s an older horse so he was perhaps ready for a change of scenery. We’re going to try and freshen him back up and try and get him somewhere back to where he was.

“He hasn’t been running badly though and he’s almost exclusively been running in top-level races. He’s a lovely horse and he’s got a nice rating, so these are the races he’s got to run in really.”

I Like To Move It won Greatwood Hurdle in November for Nigel and Sam Twiston-Davies, but needs to bounce back from a disappointing effort in the Relkeel on New Year’s Day.

I Like To Move It won the Greatwood Hurdle earlier this season
I Like To Move It won the Greatwood Hurdle earlier this season (Tim Goode/PA)

High-class chaser Minella Drama is an interesting contender – switching back to hurdles for the first time since finishing second in a Grade One novice race at Aintree in the spring of 2021.

“I had him in the Peter Marsh and I was tempted, but it’s three-mile-two, and I had him the Fleur De Lys Chase at Lingfield on Sunday, but with his Grade Two penalty he was giving weight to horses rated higher than him,” said trainer Donald McCain.

“It’s always kind of been in my head, is he a better chaser than a hurdler? I know this is a Champion Hurdle trial, but he goes on the ground and he likes the track and he’s in good nick.

“On his last run over hurdles he was second in a Grade One and we’ve done it before in this race (with Navajo Pass in 2021), so we thought we’d give it another go.”

Nells Son (Nicky Richards) and For Pleasure (Alex Hales) complete the line-up.

Bristol De Mai raring to go for weekend action, weather permitting

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Connections of ever-popular Bristol De Mai are hoping that Haydock’s Saturday card gets the green light but will switch to Lingfield if the meeting falls to the weather.

The Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained 12-year-old, who has won 10 of his 34 chase starts and finished second on another 10 occasions, relishes Haydock, especially when the ground is deep.

The consistent grey was runner-up in the Grand National Trial at the Merseyside track in February last year and was awarded the race six months later following The Galloping Bear’s disqualification.

His enthusiasm was evident on his return, as he showed up well for a long way in the Betfair Chase before tiring from four out.

Now he drops into handicap company for the Peter Marsh Chase, his first preference over Lingfield’s Fleur De Lys Chase on Sunday.

Anthony Bromley, racing manager to owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede, said: “Basically we were planning to run him this weekend in either of the two races and he is declared for both.

“We will run in the first one that’s actually on and I’m pretty doubtful that either will be.

“If that is the case, we will wait for the Grand National Trial at Haydock at the next meeting for him, which he ran well in last year.

“With the inspection moved to 8am at Haydock, we are planning to be there. If that’s off, then we will look at Lingfield and we will redirect there.

“He has been a wonderful servant to the owners. He won a Grade One Hurdle as a three-year-old at Chepstow on his first run for the owners nine years ago and he’s still got the spark in him. They are they are happy with him at home.”

Though a precautionary inspection is planned for 8am, Sandy Thomson, who trains Empire Steel, one of six in the line-up, hopes a decision is made early, as he will be setting off at 6.30am from Berwickshire.

Empire Steel was pulled up behind Royale Pagaille in the race last year but bounced back to score at Kelso, and ran well for a long way when seventh to Brave Seasca at Aintree on his return in December.

“I was delighted with his run at Aintree,” said Thomson. “He didn’t run well in the race last year but he ran well at Haydock before that, so we are hoping for a big run.

“He has won on heavy, but I don’t think any horse will like the ground it is going to be, but for the money it is not the most competitive race.”

Stage Star had a confidence-boosting outing at Plumpton last time
Stage Star had a confidence-boosting outing at Plumpton last time (Mike Egerton/PA)

Elsewhere on the card, the Paul Nicholls-trained Stage Star looks to take another progressive step when he lines up against Grand Voyage and Lac De Constance in the Grade Two Patrick Coyne Memorial Altcar Novices’ Chase.

Winner of the Challow Hurdle at Newbury last season, he opened his chasing account when scoring at Warwick and put behind him a sub-par effort next time when winning as he liked in a minor Plumpton event.

“He is a smart young chaser and bounced back to form in style last time at Plumpton where his jumping was brilliant” Nicholls reported on his Betfair blog.

“I think you can put a line through his previous defeat at Newbury where he was hanging quite badly left in the closing stages.

“He wasn’t quite right that day but looked in top order at Plumpton and continues to please at home.”

Chasing Fire could be chasing bigger prizes shortly as he step up into Grade Two company for the first time in the Sky Bet Supreme Trail Rossington Main Novices’ Hurdle.

Olly Murphy says he would not swap Chasing Fire
Olly Murphy says he would not swap Chasing Fire (David Davies/PA)

Having won his bumper, he is unbeaten in two starts over hurdles, both victories coming at Market Rasen.

“We are taking a step up in class and that will hopefully tell us where we are moving forward,” said Murphy.

“We were delighted with his run last time and while it looks a decent race – I know Dan (Skelton) likes his horse (Pembroke) and Paul’s (Nicholls) horse (Toothless) won well at Fakenham last time – I wouldn’t swap my fellow for anything.

“If he comes out of this well, we will likely head for the Supreme, but this will tell us where we are with him.”

Nicholls saddles the ex-French Toothless in the seven-strong line-up, the son of Authorized having produced a facile success on his British debut.

“He made an eyecatching debut for us by winning a maiden hurdle at Fakenham by 35 lengths on New Year’s Day and Bryony Frost was so enthusiastic about him afterwards,” added Nicholls.

“His form in three starts in France last spring was ordinary so we gave him plenty of time and felt he had improved massively in his home work before Fakenham.

“This is a big step up in grade for Toothless who I’d say is a smart horse. He is certainly bred in the purple and is a half-brother to the classy dual-purpose horse Sceau Royal.”

Haydock hoping Saturday card can beat the freeze

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Officials at Haydock have not yet given up hope Saturday’s high-profile fixture will beat the cold snap, with the track deemed raceable on Friday ahead of a planned precautionary inspection at 8am on raceday.

Ascot’s Clarence House Chase card was called off on Thursday and Haydock’s meeting looked to be heading the same way after snow fell on frozen ground on Wednesday night.

Clerk of the course Kirkland Tellwright admitted things were “not looking as good as they were” and announced an inspection for noon on Friday.

However, with the snow having cleared, Tellwright was in a more optimistic mood on Friday morning, and therefore cancelled Friday’s inspection and instead called a precautionary check for Saturday.

The Merseyside venue is due to stage four Grade Two events, including The New One Unibet Hurdle and Peter Marsh Chase.

Tellwright said: “We’ve had a good night and we’re in a better place than we expected to be, but in the context of the forecast we’ve put a precautionary in for tomorrow morning.

“The snow on the track has gone and we’re fit to race this morning, so it entirely hinges on the scale of any frost tonight.

“We’re forecast temperatures of between just below zero and minus 2C, which is the difference between success and failure.”

Taunton will inspect at 4pm on Friday
Taunton has been abandoned (Alan Crowhurst/PA)

If Haydock does get the green light, it will be the sole jumps meeting in Britain on Saturday after Taunton’s fixture was abandoned on Friday afternoon.

A precautionary check was initially called for 8am on raceday, but deteriorating conditions prompted a change of plans and the inspection was brought forward to 4pm on Friday.

However, with the course still unraceable and no prospect of sufficient improvement, the fixture was called off shortly after 3pm.

Sunday’s meeting at Fakenham has also been called off due to a frozen track following a 2pm inspection on Friday. Officials were due to check the course on Saturday but brought forward that look as conditions were not improving.

Energumene against Edwardstone at Ascot lost to the weather

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A mouthwatering clash between Queen Mother Champion Chase hero Energumene and Arkle victor Edwardstone will not take place this weekend after Saturday’s meeting at Ascot was abandoned due to a frozen track.

The two-mile chasing juggernauts were due to lock horns in the Grade One LK Bennett Clarence House Chase, but the Berkshire track has been unraceable since Tuesday morning.

Clerk of the course Chris Stickels announced an inspection for 4pm on Thursday to assess the prospects of racing and ultimately had no option but to call off proceedings.

He said: “There was not sufficient improvement, the track remains unraceable and given the forecast and where we are right now, there’s no chance of us being raceable for Saturday.”

Energumene winning the Queen Mother Champion Chase
Energumene winning the Queen Mother Champion Chase (David Davies/PA)

Whether the Clarence House Chase is rescheduled remains to be seen – but Patrick Mullins, assistant to his father Willie, confirmed the intention for Energumene to travel over if the race is switched to a different venue.

“If it is lost we hope it is rescheduled and the plan would still be to go over. It fits in well with his programme,” he told Sky Sports Racing.

“He’s in great form, he worked well at the Curragh on Tuesday, he worked well this morning and we’re fit and ready to rock.”

Saturday’s other high-profile fixture at Haydock is also in doubt.

Haydock was hit by snow overnight
Haydock was hit by snow overnight (Nigel French/PA)

The Merseyside venue is due to stage four Grade Two events, including The New One Unibet Hurdle and Peter Marsh Chase, but snow overnight prompted clerk of the course Kirkland Tellwright to call a noon inspection on Friday to assess whether racing can go ahead.

He said: “We have had half an inch of snow overnight with a frost, so things are not looking as good as they were.

“We have called an inspection for noon tomorrow and we would need to see the snow gone by then if we are to persevere.

“It depends on which forecast you look at – on the most optimistic it’s just about feasible, but on the most pessimistic we will be beaten.”

Jumps action is also scheduled at Taunton on Saturday, with officials calling an 8am precautionary inspection on raceday.

There will be no turf racing in Britain on Friday – a fourth successive blank day – as Market Rasen called off their card following a noon inspection on Thursday.

The meeting has been rescheduled for Tuesday and will have the bumper due to feature the exciting Queens Gamble carried forward. A further Ffos Las fixture has also been added to the calendar for January 23.

Ascot call Thursday inspection ahead of Clarence House card

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Saturday’s high-profile fixtures at Ascot and Haydock will have to pass inspections if they are to go ahead.

Ascot’s card features the Grade One LK Bennett Clarence House Chase, but the Berkshire track has been unraceable since Tuesday morning and clerk of the course Chris Stickels will hold a 4pm inspection on Thursday to assess the prospects of racing.

He said: “We are currently unraceable, the track is frozen in places. It is even frozen in places under the frost covers.

“We were not raceable at all yesterday, despite temperatures getting up to 5C during the day.

“It got down to -1.75C last night and we want to see if there is any improvement today.”

Haydock was hit by snow overnight
Haydock was hit by snow overnight (Nigel French/PA)

Haydock is due to stage four Grade Two events, including The New One Unibet Hurdle and Peter Marsh Chase.

However, the Merseyside venue was hit by snow overnight, prompting clerk of the course Kirkland Tellwright to call a noon inspection on Friday to assess whether racing can go ahead.

He said: “We have had half an inch of snow overnight with a frost, so things are not looking as good as they were.

“We have called an inspection for noon tomorrow and we would need to see the snow gone by then if we are to persevere.

“It depends on which forecast you look at – on the most optimistic it’s just about feasible, but on the most pessimistic we will be beaten.”

Jumps action is also scheduled at Taunton on Saturday, with officials calling an 8am precautionary inspection on raceday.

The course is currently raceable, but frost is forecast.

There will be no turf racing in Britain on Friday – a fourth successive blank day – as Market Rasen called off their card following a noon inspection on Thursday.

Day one of Lingfield’s Winter Million meeting lost to cold snap

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Day one of Lingfield’s Winter Million weekend on Friday has been abandoned.

With temperatures reaching below minus 6C at the course on Monday night through Tuesday morning, an early bulletin had stressed the track needed fortune to be on their side for the first of their three-day meeting to go ahead – and following a 4.45pm inspection racing was abandoned due to a hard frost with limited improvement and the further poor forecast.

Friday’s card was set to feature the £110,000 Sovereign Handicap Hurdle and the £50,000 Class 2 Godstone Chase – a handicap run over two miles and the British Horseracing Authority and Lingfield have acted quickly to add these two races to Sunday’s fixture.

The final day of the meeting, which also hosts the weekend’s flagship Fleur De Lys Chase, will now be a nine-race card and officials are cautiously optimistic rising temperatures over the weekend will allow both Saturday’s all-weather card and Sunday’s action on the turf to go ahead.

“We’re heavily frozen in places today and the reality is we got to 1C today for about four hours and we’ll have another hard frost tonight and the next couple of nights,” said George Hill, clerk of the course for Lingfield.

“The forecast basically has no chance of improving before Friday so we felt as a team in conjunction with the BHA that the best course of action would be to save the best two races from Friday and put them on Sunday to make that a nine-race card.

“We’ll obviously need improvement in the forecast, but at least there is scope for the forecast to improve on Saturday into Sunday, where we kind of know what the forecast is for the next 48 to 72 hours – we’re fairly confident what that forecast is.”

He continued: “It gives us the best chance of saving as many races in the current situation we are faced with and the latest challenge of the weather.

“If we can manage to get Sunday on and Saturday’s all-weather Flat card as well, which will be a good day, then at least it will be a decent nine-race card with a hell of a lot of prize-money up for grabs. It’s not really what we wanted but it’s the best of the bad situation we are in.”

Meanwhile officials at Ascot have admitted the change in forecast “may present some challenges” in being able to stage Saturday’s card – which is headlined by the LK Bennett Clarence House Chase.

Temperatures dropped as low as minus 6C on Monday night through to Tuesday morning and clerk of the course Chris Stickles has indicated a changing forecast suggests the cold weather may now extend into the weekend.

He said: “The going remains soft, good to soft in places on the chase track and good to soft, soft in places on the hurdles course. We’re obviously frozen on both courses in places this morning following minus 6C overnight and temperatures are still below freezing now.

“The forecast now indicates that this cold spell could last into the weekend, so it has changed since yesterday. So that may present some challenges.

“Temperatures aren’t due to get much above 4C on any given day and we’re still below freezing at the moment. Its not likely to get as cold as it did last night again currently, but although it’s not forecast to get as cold as it did last night it does look like sub-zero temperatures each night.

“We’ll continue to monitor and update accordingly.”

Haydock are also “50-50” to stage their Saturday fixture where the use of frost covers may not be enough to save the Peter Marsh Chase card.

Ground staff out on the track in the fog and frost to prepare the track before a previous meeting at Haydock Park
Ground staff out on the track in the fog and frost to prepare the track before a previous meeting at Haydock Park (John Giles/PA)

“I would say we are 50-50 realistically,” said clerk of the course Kirkland Tellwright. “We were minus 3C last night and we’ve got several more nights to get through.

“Frost covers are down but they will have their work cut out on the worn ground. There is no sign of any sun today for instance. It’s just above zero but we’ve got fog pretty much slowing down any thawing activity out there.

“We’ll just have to play it as it comes. We would very much like to race and will do everything we can.”

Freezing temperatures have already took their toll on the week’s racing programme with Chepstow on Tuesday and Newbury on Wednesday abandoned due to frost.

Newcastle have taken the decision to abandon for Thursday following an inspection late on Tuesday afternoon due to a hard frost and a minimal opportunity in the forecast for conditions to improve.

Plumpton will stage a second inspection at 8.30am ahead of their meeting on Wednesday.

Frost covers are down but it reached minus 6C on Monday night. However, Tuesday evening was not set to be as cold with -2C forecast and officials are hopeful of racing.

Officials at Ludlow have announced a precautionary inspection for 9am on Wednesday ahead of the track’s scheduled Thursday fixture, while Wincanton inspect at 8am on Thursday ahead of their Somerset National card later that day.