Cheltenham taking frost precautions

Cheltenham are taking every precaution to ensure Saturday’s big meeting, featuring the Victor Chandler Chase and Letheby & Christopher Chase, goes ahead.

Take-offs, landings and other important and vulnerable areas are being protected from the possible threat posed by frost.

The course was raceable on Thursday, with the going described as good, but the weather is set to become colder by Friday night.

Although clerk of the course Simon Claisse rates the prospect of racing as 60-40 in their favour, he may feel it necessary to call a precautionary inspection on Saturday morning.

“We could have raced today. We are forecast minus two tonight with daytime temperatures reaching four or five so tomorrow should be a repeat of today,” said Claisse.

“However, Friday night is set to be a bit colder with temperatures not getting above two or three.

“That concerns us a little. We will take a view tomorrow and may look as a precaution on Saturday morning.

“We remain optimistic about the meeting going ahead and I would say it’s 60-40 in our favour.

“The difficulty for the forecasters is that we are on the edge between cold air to the east and milder air to the west. We are barely in one or the other.

“Protection for the take-offs and landings has been down since the end of last week as have crossings and entries, exits and anywhere else.

“Let’s hope the meeting survives.”