Kempton confident despite snow risk

Kempton clerk of the course Brian Clifford is confident of tomorrow’s feature meeting going ahead despite the risk of some overnight snow showers.

The Sunbury track, which stages the Stan James King George VI Chase as well as two other Grade One races, is reported to be in fine shape today but Clifford is a little concerned by the prospect of snow.

He said: “We had a slight grass frost overnight but it is a beautiful day here today.

“The forecast is for a small risk of some snow showers in the early hours of tomorrow, which is a little worrying, and temperatures are set to go down to minus one overnight.”

Clifford reports the going on the chase track to be good to soft with a Goingstick reading of 7.4 while the hurdle course is good to soft, good in places with a reading of 7.6.

Three of tomorrow’s meetings will have to pass precautionary inspections with Wetherby, which stages the skybet.com Rowland Meyrick Chase, Uttoxeter and Market Rasen all taking a look.

The going at Wetherby has eased slightly to good to soft, good in places after some rain yesterday and they have also had a dusting of snow this morning.

Chief executive Tim Betteridge said: “We had a couple of millimetres of rain late yesterday afternoon and into the early evening but temperatures overnight didn’t drop below freezing.

“We have had a light dusting of snow this morning but no frost so we would have had no problems in racing today.

“The forecast is for temperatures to go down to minus two tonight which wouldn’t be a problem but we will have an inspection in case the forecast is inaccurate.

“Any worse than forecast could give us a problem but the inspection is purely precautionary.”

Market Rasen will also inspect at 7.30am and hopes are high of racing going ahead.

Clerk of the course Nick Patton said: “We will have a look at 7.30 tomorrow morning but it is purely precautionary. We are forecast a bit of frost overnight and it is due to be a cold day tomorrow.”

The ground at the Lincolnshire venue is currently described as soft on the chase track and good to soft on the hurdles course.

Uttoxeter will inspect at 8am and their ground is heavy.

Clerk of the course Keith Ottesen said: “We are absolutely fine today but the Met Office is forecasting temperatures of minus three overnight, so we will have a precautionary inspection at 8am.”

Although temperatures may dip below freezing at Wincanton and Towcester, no problems are envisaged at either track.

Wincanton’s clerk of the course Rebecca Morgan said: “We had a slight frost last night but it hardly got below freezing. We will just have to see what we get tonight now.”

The ground at the Somerset track is good to soft while the going remains soft at Towcester despite some rain yesterday.

Paul Robinson, acting clerk of the course, said: “We had one millimetre of rain late yesterday afternoon and it was minus two overnight but that has not been a problem as it is a crisp, clear day here today.

“The prospects for tomorrow are very favourable.”