Hopeful Newcastle inspect

Officials at Newcastle will inspect conditions at 2pm this afternoon ahead of tomorrow’s jumps meeting.

The Gosforth Park venue remains frozen in places following another cold night, although warmer temperatures together with rain are forecast.

Clerk of the course James Armstrong said: “We had another frosty night, which we were not forecast to get, it go down to around minus 1C or minus 2C.

“It wasn’t a particularly hard frost, and I’m told there is a band of rain and positive temperatures coming in so we will monitor that and have a look – the chances are we will roll it on to tomorrow morning.

“They are talking about 5C or 6C which, along with rain, should see the frost shift. Temperatures are positive from then and while I’m not quite as optimistic as I was two days ago, if the forecast is correct then hopefully we will be all right.”