Prospects bright for racing in Britain

RACING in Britain looks to have emerged from the freeze-up in time for the majority of today’s meetings to go ahead with no expected problems.

Officials at three of the four jumps meetings scheduled for Britain today are confident of racing, while the other, Uttoxeter, will have to pass a 7.30am inspection.

Ascot stage a card which features the Grade One Servo Computer Services' Ascot Chase, in which top-drawer performers Fondmort, Le Roi Miguel and Tiutchev will line up.

"All the frost and snow has disappeared and we have no worries at all," said Nick Cheyne, clerk of the course.

A field of 15 has been declared for the feature race at Doncaster the Skybet Chase with Town Moor sailing through a 2pm inspection yesterday.

"We most certainly have got the green light," said head groundsman Malcolm Taylor.

The meeting at Uttoxeter, which stages the Singer & Friedlander National Trial, hinges on a precautionary 7.30am inspection.

Officials inspected the track yesterday morning and found all the frost had left the ground, although there are still a few areas of snow left.

Yesterday's meeting at Folkestone was called off after an early morning inspection, bringing the total number of abandonments in Britain this week to seven.