Newcastle given green light

This afternoon’s meeting at Newcastle goes ahead as scheduled after the course passed an 8am inspection.

Clerk of the course James Armstrong decided to take a look at conditions due to the forecast of freezing overnight temperatures.

But with frost covers in place, Armstrong is delighted to report conditions are raceable.

He said: “We’re fine to race, which is great news.

“There is very little sign of the frost getting under the covers we had down and they will be removed in the next hour or so.

“It’s not going to get very warm today and there is the chance of the odd wintry flurry, but the main thing is the track is fit for racing.

“I’ve actually walked the Flat course this morning and that was raceable where we don’t have areas of exposed soil, but the frost covers gave us that added security.”