Cold snap threatens British cards

Cold weather threatens to wreak havoc on tomorrow`s fixture list in Britain with all four scheduled National Hunt in some danger from frost.

Cheltenham, whose meeting features the Tripleprint Gold Cup, Haydock Park, Doncaster, and Lingfield Park will all stage inspections in the morning.

Overnight temperatures may fall to as low as -5C at Cheltenham which could cause problems for the showpiece card, which is due to start at 12.10pm.

Officials will inspect the track at 7.00am and clerk of the course Simon Claisse said: 'The meeting could all hinge upon how long the cold spell will last for.

'It was -4C here on Tuesday night for half an hour but there would have been no problems if we needed to race on Wednesday.

'The forecast is for it not to rise above 3C tomorrow but forecasts here are often wrong and I`m always optimistic.'

All appropriate areas on the course, including the take-offs and landing areas of all hurdles and fences will be covered overnight.

Haydock Park will stage a precautionary inspection at 7am while Lingfield Park will have a precautionary look at 7.45am.

It is a similar story at Doncaster although track manager Malcolm Taylor is hopeful racing will get the green light.

A forecast of frost has led the South Yorkshire course to hold a precautionary inspection at 7.30am.

'It could get down to between -3C and -5C depending on who you listen to,' explained track manager Malcolm Taylor

'If it only gets down to -3C we shouldn`t have a problem with it - any more than that and you`re on the edge as they say.

'But -3C with a clear day tomorrow we should be pretty hopeful.'

If Cheltenham fails to beat the weather then Channel 4 has announced it plans to show the last five races at Doncaster and Lingfield.