Arctic blast claims jumps meetings

This afternoon’s UK jumps meetings have been abandoned due to the current widespread arctic conditions.

Bangor was forced to call off their seven-race card on Saturday because of snow, while Huntingdon fell foul to sub-zero temperatures after two morning inspections and one afternoon check on Saturday.

Although the situation showed a modicum of improvement at dawn, a strengthening wind meant the track was unable to recover from an overnight temperature of -1.

“I was quite upbeat earlier but once the wind got up, there was nothing we could do,” said Huntingdon clerk of the course Fiona Needham.

“We gave it every chance, but the frost was not coming out of the ground quickly enough to make the course raceable in time.”

Racing is still set fair in Ireland, where Leopardstown and Clonmel have reported no problems.

Monday’s meeting at Hereford may not be quite so lucky, however, as an inspection as being called at 5pm this evening.

Clerk of the course Gemma Charrington will take a look at the track after overnight temperatures surprisingly dipped to minus-three degrees.

“We wouldn’t be raceable today and the frost needs to have come out of the ground significantly this afternoon,” said Charrington.

“We have only been forecast for minus-one tonight but, then again, we were not expecting things to be so cold last night.

“Hopefully things will improve but it is looking a bit bleak at the moment.”

The other two meetings on Monday are on the all-weather at Lingfield and Wolverhampton.