Ascot for morning check

Officials at Ascot will stage a precautionary inspection at 7.30am ahead of their fixture tomorrow.

Although conditions are perfectly raceable at present with frost covers in place, temperatures are due to drop significantly over the next 24 hours and clerk of the course Chris Stickels thought it best to take a look.

“It’s very much a precautionary inspection and we are absolutely fine as we speak,” said Stickels.

“The difficulty with the forecast is we really don’t know how bad it’s going to be.

“We are due to get down to minus 4C overnight but with the frost covers down, we would expect to be fine.

“But I think it’s prudent to call an inspection so that everybody knows there could be a question mark should it be colder or should we get snow.

“At the moment, we’re hoping Friday should be OK.”

Ascot are also set to stage a top-class meeting on Saturday, featuring the BGC Long Walk Hurdle and the Ladbroke Handicap Hurdle.

“The forecast in terms of Saturday’s meeting has altered slightly in that the snow that was due to arrive Friday night now looks more likely to come Saturday morning,” Stickels added.

“Obviously the weather patterns will change as time goes on, but the forecast is indicating now that the likelihood of the snow arriving is greater, so it looks as though we’re pretty sure to get it.”