Wetherby inspects but hopes high

Racing at Wetherby tomorrow hinges on an 8am inspection but officials are “reasonably hopeful” the meeting will go ahead.

Only small pockets remain of the snow that fell on Thursday and granted a frost-free night, hopes are high that the fixture, featuring the re-arranged WBX.COM “Fighting Fifth” Hurdle, will take place.

“We’ve had a good day. The temperatures from 11am were up to about five degrees. The snow is virtually all gone,” said clerk of the course Jonjo Sanderson.

“There are still isolated areas on the track where snow is lying, but hopefully not enough to cause us a problem.

“With that in mind and also because you never know with the weather, we have put in an 8am inspection.

“There is a little bit of snow on the track. No frost is forecast but if it comes and it freezes we could be back to square one, but at this stage I’m reasonably hopeful we’ll be racing. We are forecast plus six tomorrow.”

The going is described as soft, heavy in places on the chase course.

The “Fighting Fifth” was switched to the West Yorkshire venue after the meeting at Newcastle was lost through frost last Saturday.