Sandown beat frost but Newcastle off

Racing at Sandown today was finally given the go-ahead two hours before the first race was due off at 1.05pm following three inspections.

A sharp frost had put the meeting, featuring the ladbrokes.com Tolworth Hurdle, in doubt for most of the morning.

Officials walked the track first at 7.30am and at 9am before being satisfied that the Esher course was raceable just after 11am.

“The frost has come out of the ground to a sufficient level for us to race,” said clerk of the course Andrew Cooper.

But Newcastle had to be abandoned because of frost following an early morning inspection.

“Things have improved a bit but not enough for us to race,” said clerk of the course James Armstrong.

“It got down to minus two last night and it’s not set to get above plus two today so what pockets of frost we have got left are not going to move.

“In the interests of safety we can’t be taking a chance.”

No problems are reported at the two all-weather fixtures at Lingfield Park and Wolverhampton.