Newcastle in the balance

Newcastle’s meeting tomorrow, which features the £40,000 (€56,000) Cantor Mobile “Dipper” Novices’ Chase, hinges on a morning inspection with prospects described as “50-50”.

After checking the track at noon today, clerk of the course James Armstrong said: “We are going to have another look tomorrow at 7.30am. Things are improving all the while but we still wouldn’t be able to race at this moment in time.

“Prospects are 50-50. The forecast is to hover around zero with the worst case scenario for it to go down to minus one and there is talk of some light snow, although hopefully that shouldn’t cause us a problem.

“If it stays mild tonight we’ve got a chance but if it dips much below zero we’ll have problems.”