Tolworth switched to Ffos Las - weather permitting

Ffos Las are to stage the rescheduled Tolworth Hurdle should their big meeting on Saturday go ahead.

The Grade One contest has been switched to the Welsh venue after Sandown was abandoned last weekend.

The £50,000 (€55,000) SIS Live Welsh Champion Hurdle is the feature race on the card and the £35,000 (€38,000) Tolworth, sponsored by Blue Square, would add further interest.

There would also be a local flavour as leading Tolworth fancy Oscar Whisky is owned by Ffos Las’ founder Dai Walters.

The track is pulling out all the stops to stage the fixture and clerk of the course Tim Long remains hopeful.

“We had a couple of inches of snow this morning, it all came very quickly, but it is rapidly disappearing,” he said.

“We’ve had a good thaw and it’s got to three degrees this afternoon and there’s a lot of sunshine.

“There could be another flurry of snow through tonight, but the forecast is for it stay round about the freezing mark day and night.

“If we get this total thaw which it looks like we are and we have 24-36 hours to have a good window to put sheets down to cover the whole course that’s what we are going to do.

“Anywhere vulnerable at the moment is already covered – that’s primarily the chase course, landings, take-offs and a few other areas.

“We are giving ourselves a fair chance. Geographically if anyone is going to be racing we’ve got the best chance and the forecast does give us a squeak.”