Inspections this afternoon for Tuesday's meetings

Prospects of jump racing in Britain tomorrow look bleak with Market Rasen and Sedgefield both holding inspections this afternoon.

Market Rasen will inspect at 2pm and, with the track currently covered in snow and conditions unlikely to improve significantly, clerk of the course Nick Patton is less than optimistic.

'We're going to have a look at 2pm this afternoon and we have had approximately two inches of snow,' said Patton this morning.

'We're going to have an early look to assess the prospects of racing, and at this stage it doesn't look too hopeful.'

Officials at Sedgefield have called a 4pm inspection for this afternoon to assess the prospects of racing there tomorrow.

The Durham track is currently covered in snow and with more on the way, clerk of the course Charlie Moore has been left with little option but to call an early check.

'We have an inch and a half of snow on the track at the moment and by 8pm tonight that will have doubled at least,' said Moore.

'However, there is a band of rain that might stir itself up about 2am in the morning and that could just clear the snow. That's why we're looking at 4pm as if I have no confidence in the rain or if I have five inches of snow on the course, it will take an awful lot of rain to clear it. Then I have to worry about waterlogging.'

Prospects of racing at Ludlow on Wednesday appear slim after the track called an 8am inspection for Tuesday. The track is currently frozen in places and has a covering of snow with more wintry weather forecast.

'We've got a snow covering and it's frozen underneath also. More snow is forecast and it is supposed to be very cold,' said clerk of the course Bob Davies.

'I've seen temperatures as low as minus three forecast and a maximum of two degrees above. At this stage I'd have to say our prospects are very remote.'