Tuesday prospects bleak after snow wreaks havoc
RACING in Britain was wiped out by snow on Monday as the Met Office issued warnings of further heavy falls of the kind that brought much of the nation grinding to a standstill.
All three of Monday's fixtures were lost - including, amid some controversy, the all-weather card at Wolverhampton - as bookmakers took the unusual step of betting on when jumps racing would resume in Britain.
Blanketed by two inches of snow, Market Rasen has already abandoned Tuesday's card and, while rain could save racing at Sedgefield, a 7.30am inspection is scheduled.
"I've seen four forecasts and they say we should be getting rain from 1am onwards," said Sedgefield clerk of the course Charlie Moore.
"That might mean we have too much moisture in the track but until I see that, I can't call it off.
"The odds are not hugely in our favour but we want to give the meeting every chance."
Despite losing its jumps card on Monday, Southwell reported no problems for Tuesday's all-weather fixture.
Further twiddling of thumbs was the order of the day for Tony McCoy, who was due to ride at Southwell on Monday but could now have to wait until Thursday to continue his questfor 3,000 jumps winners.
The outlook appears bleak for Wednesday's jumps action at Carlisle, where three inches still lay on the course when a 3pm Tuesday inspection was scheduled on Monday afternoon.
The chances of jump racing on Wednesday at Ludlow, which stages an 8am inspection on Tuesday, were described as "very remote" by clerk of the course Bob Davies - but according to the Met Office this looks set to be the last fixture in doubt.
A spokeswoman said: "More persistent snow showers are forecast to move up the east coast into the north over the next few days together with sharp frosts and a northerly wind by Friday.
"In the south this could be replaced by rain which should easy the snow away and give some parts time to thaw, so racing later in the week may survive."
Kempton and Lingfield are due to stage all-weather Flat fixtures on Wednesday.
Prospects in Ireland were slightly brighter for Down Royal on Wednesday, but officals fear any further snow could pose a threat.
The track at Taunton, where racing is scheduled for Thursday, is frozen while that day's other jumps card is at Huntingdon, where there is alight covering of snow.
Looking further ahead, officials at Newbury are hoping the covers deployed last Friday will do their job toallow Saturday's big meeting, featuring the possible reappearance of Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Denman, to go ahead.
"We've got about two to three centimetres of snow at the moment, but the great thing about snow is that is stops the frost from getting into the ground," said clerk of the course Richard Osgood.
"Obviously we have got to get rid of the snow, but it's basically going to be one day to the next and see how we get on. The forecast is up and down.
"I'd still be hopeful. I've known weeks before starting like this, milder weather comes in, everything disappears and everyone wonders what the fuss was all about.
"It's exciting, what we've got on Saturday, so let's hope we can go ahead."
Which racecourse will stage the next National Hunt race in Britain?
Victor Chandler: 9-4 Taunton, 3 Kempton, 7-2 Ayr, 8 Newbury, Huntingdon, any other, 10 Fontwell, 14 Warwick, 16 Bangor, 25 Ludlow, 33 Carlisle
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