Cross-channel weather watch

Saturday's fixture at Sandown, set to feature the Grade One Scilly Isles Novices' Chase, has become the highest-profile casualty of the recent freeze.

Former champion hurdler Binocular was also due to appear at the Esher venue but despite the course covering up earlier in the week, the frost was so keen it even crept underneath the fleece.

An inspection was called at 8am and clerk of the course Andrew Cooper did not waste time in calling the meeting off.

"It's obviously disappointing but I think, to be fair, we probably knew it was going to be an uphill battle at the close of play yesterday," said Cooper.

"It dropped to minus 4C here overnight, but the wind chill has also dropped, so in a way it's not really any worse than it was yesterday.

"We're expecting to go up to 2C today but it won't be enough. From where we are now, we need to be hitting 5C or 6C in this time scale."

Wetherby's meeting on Saturday, where RSA Chase hopefuls go on trial in the Towton Novices' Chase, also hangs in the balance.

A 3pm inspection has been called with hopes pinned on temperatures rising throughout the afternoon and a milder night than forecast occurring.

"We were at minus 6C from about 5am until 8am and we're now at minus 4C," said clerk of the course Jonjo Sanderson.

"It's been freezing since 9pm and we are forecast anything from 0C to 1C or 2C at best today, but there is a rogue forecast saying we could get to 4C.

"If that's right, it would give us the opportunity to reassess the situation in the morning. We are generally forecast minus 4C overnight, but it could go as low as minus 5C, 6C or even 7C which would scupper us."

Ffos Las have been making positive noises all week about their Welsh Champion Hurdle card, but it will need to survive a 9am inspection.

Clerk of the course Tim Long covered the track earlier in the week in a bid to safeguard the fixture, however, frost is now under the covers.

"We had a sharper frost than expected last night, minus 5C verging on minus 6C at it's worst," he said.

"Cloud cover is forecast with some rain but it's a question of how soon that comes in so we will look at 9am when we will have a better idea."

Prospects are not much better in Ireland either, where officials at Fairyhouse will hold an inspection at 4pm today ahead of Saturday's meeting as the course is unfit for racing due to frost.

Musselburgh remain hopeful of racing on Sunday despite calling a precautionary inspection for 7am on raceday morning.

The Scottish venue is currently frozen in places but general manager Bill Farnsworth is expecting to see sufficient improvement ahead of their Cheltenham Festival Trials card.

He said: "The forecast is good. The ground is still partly frozen but it only got down to 0C overnight, so it didn't get any worse which is good news.

"Sunday is forecast to be bright and sunny with temperatures of 6C or 7C so we are very, very optimistic.

"We've called an inspection but we will have a look tomorrow and if we're heading in the right direction, we may be able to give it the go-head then."

Fontwell have called an inspection for 12.30pm on Saturday ahead of their fixture on Sunday.

Clerk of the course Ed Arkell reports the track to be frozen at present and with further frosts and snow forecast, he admits their meeting is in the balance.

"The forecast is fairly challenging. We dropped to minus 5.5C overnight and we are forecast to reach just above freezing today," he said.

"We will know more tomorrow lunchtime and we don't want to upset anyone by giving false hope about our chances."

Friday afternoon's meeting at Catterick was abandoned after temperatures dropped to minus 7C in Richmondshire