Carlisle sole casualty of cold

Carlisle looks set to be racing's only casualty of the cold snap today with the National Hunt fixture at the Cumbrian track being…

Carlisle looks set to be racing's only casualty of the cold snap today with the National Hunt fixture at the Cumbrian track being abandoned as the course is frozen.

But all the other four meetings in Britain have been given the go-ahead with Southwell's big televised jumps meeting surviving a morning inspection and a frost-free Stratford even cancelling their planned early look at the surface.

And the good news from Ireland is that Leopardstown was also given the green light.

The main attraction at the Dublin course is the reappearance of triple Champion Hurdle winner Istabraq in the Tote December Festival Hurdle.

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That meeting got the go ahead following a 7am inspection. The official going is described as yielding.

Carlisle was called off following a 7.30am inspection.

Clerk of the course Jonnie Fenwicke-Clennell said "It's minus four at the moment and we were down to minus five and a half overnight.

"We debated about going a bit later but we would be no better off because it is still freezing at the moment.

"The forecast is for the temperature only to get to two degrees and there is snow forecast with a 50 per cent risk of snow showers.

"The frost is not going to come out in time and the course is frozen."

At Stratford, an inspection was set for 7am, but clerk of the course David Hanson reported there was no need for one in the end.

He said: "We had an inspection planned. But it did not freeze over, so we are all clear. We go ahead."

Southwell brought their inspection forward. Clerk of the course Fergus Cameron said: "We brought forward our inspection from 7.45 and we passed the course fit. We were expecting a frost but the temperature stayed above zero.

"There is a little bit of snow forecast but none has settled yet."

No problems have been reported at Newbury where there was no frost and just drizzle overnight.

Lingfield has a light dusting of snow, but no problems are envisaged at the all-weather Flat fixture at the Surrey venue.