No expected weather problems for Hennessy card

Officials at Newbury are confident that the prestigious Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup meeting will go ahead without a hitch thanks to a favourable weather forecast.

However, early-morning precautionary inspections have been called at tomorrow’s two other jumps fixtures at Newcastle and Towcester.

Racing took place at Newbury today and no problems are expected for tomorrow.

Clerk of the course Richard Osgood said: “We are forecast to get down to minus one in the early evening but it will cloud over by midnight and by dawn it will be plus one.

“Tomorrow should see a bright morning with temperatures about five degrees and we are not planning to inspect and no snow is forecast.”

Newcastle officials remain optimistic but will hold a precautionary inspection at 7.30am.

The Gosforth Park venue plays host to its biggest jumps meeting of the season with the running of the Pertemps “Fighting Fifth” Hurdle, and clerk of the course James Armstrong wants to check conditions are suitable.

“We are forecast to stay above freezing tonight but I have called a precautionary inspection in case we dip below,” he said.

“I am very optimistic that the meeting will be fine and we are only forecast rain and sleet.”

Towcester plan to have a look at the course at 8am.

There was a frost at the track on Thursday night and although the weather is set to improve, clerk of the course Robert Bellamy will check conditions early in the morning.

He said: “At present it is minus three degrees with a wind chill of minus five so we have called a precautionary inspection.

“Conditions are forecast to improve but whether they improve enough we will have to see.

“We are forecast plus two or three overnight but it is the wind chill that could cause problems.”

No problems are envisaged at tomorrow’s all-weather programmes at Lingfield and Wolverhampton.

Sunday’s Irish fixture at Navan is subject to a precautionary inspection at 10am tomorrow due to the threat of severe weather conditions.

Cliff Noone, press officer for the Irish Turf Club, said: “The snow that was there this morning has cleared and we are not forecast frost but there could be a problem with further snow, depending on where it hits.

“Warmer weather is forecast from Saturday onwards but it is the next 24 hours that severe weather could be a problem, and we may have to have another inspection on Sunday morning.”