Noon inspection for Musselburgh

Two early-morning inspections at Musselburgh have proved inconclusive on its suitability for racing today.

Clerk of the course Anthea Morshead has scheduled a noon inspection before making a final call on whether there will be racing there today.

Officials walked the track at 6.45am after temperatures dipped well below freezing overnight but their first inspection proved inconclusive.

“It’s been minus two and it is zero degrees now but there is some frost in the ground,” explained clerk of the course Anthea Morshead.

“Temperatures are forecast to go to plus three or four by 12pm but we need to see some improvement. We will have another look and, hopefully, we will be able to pass it. It’s in the balance.”

Racing is scheduled to start just 20 minutes after noon.

Morshead said: “We are going to take it right to the wire. Although we can’t pass it fit for racing yet, we have spoken to the Met Office and there is warm air that’s due to move in.

“We are pinning our hopes on that really. There is the possibility we could put back the first race.”