Conditions on the Roodee should be perfect for Wednesday’s totesport Chester Cup, for which a maximum field of 18 has been declared for what is the showpiece of the three-day meeting.

The forecast of dry weather from mid-afternoon today has given Ripon hope that tomorrow’s meeting featuring the Great St Wilfrid Handicap might yet go ahead.

An Ireland's Presidents selection has been chosen for the sides first outing this season when they travel to San Sebastion in Spain to play a friendly with a Basque 15.

Officials at Ripon will hold another inspection at 3.30pm today with clerk of the course James Hutchinson describing prospects for tomorrow’s meeting as ‘‘50-50’’.