Cheltenham to check again at 10am

This afternoon’s big meeting at Cheltenham must pass a 10am inspection after an early-morning assessment failed to deliver a positive verdict.

Although frost covers have been deployed over the entirety of the track, overnight temperatures dropped to -7C.

Clerk of the course Simon Claisse staged an 8am precautionary inspection, but his team felt it wise to check again later this morning.

Cheltenham communications director Andy Clifford told Press Association Sport: “The course is frozen in places under the covers, but temperatures are moving slowly in the right direction.

“We’d be hopeful rather than confident, but we want to give ourselves the best chance of racing.

“It’s very likely we’ll make a firm decision at 10am.”

Cheltenham Festival Trials day is the final meeting at Prestbury Park before the main event in March.