Ayr fixtures in jeopardy

Officials at Ayr have announced an inspection for 9.30am on Thursday to assess the prospects of racing on Friday and Saturday.

The Scottish venue is currently frozen in places after temperatures fell to as low as -4 on the last three nights.

With temperatures unlikely to change for the remainder of the week, clerk of the course Katherine Self has decided to call an early check.

“This is very frustrating as there is a good covering of grass on the course and we moved early to lay covers, but frost is still getting into the ground,” said Self.

“Daytime temperatures are only rising to three degrees and the band of high pressure that has brought us this weather is not likely to move.

“We can only hope that the forecasters have got it wrong.”