Monday racing under threat

The weather is again threatening to wreak havoc on the fixture list over the coming days, with the prospect of no racing tomorrow looking a real possibility.

Snow and frost is beginning to take hold and officials at Lingfield have already taken the decision to abandon Monday's card following a 4pm inspection.

Clerk of the course Neil MacKenzie Ross said : "Unfortunately we've had to abandon due to frost and snow.

"It is currently minus two and we have an inch of snow on the track.

"Temperatures are set to be minus two or minus three overnight so all that snow is going to do is freeze.

"There is further snow forecast so there is no point in delaying things."

Snow fell throughout Sunday's all-weather card at Southwell and track officials have called a 7.30am precautionary inspection ahead of their National Hunt meeting on Monday.

Estates manager Simon Davis said: "We've had a heavy snow shower and they are still talking about heavy snow for tonight.

"We are going to have a look in the morning to see what the score is."

Tony McCoy will be keeping his fingers crossed the meeting beats the elements as the champion jockey has three rides booked as he goes in search of his 3,000th National Hunt winner.

Even the all-weather is not safe from the snow as Wolverhampton's clerk of the course Fergus Cameron will also take a look at 7.30am on Monday.

"We have had a little bit (of snow) already," said clerk of the course Fergus Cameron.

"Given the forecast, we thought it only right to assess conditions in the morning."