Covers used to protect course

OFFICIALS AT Sandown are optimistic the covers will protect the course from the forecast frost ahead of today's meeting.

Staff at the Esher track worked throughout the day and into the evening yesterday to ensure the ground was protected.

Hopes are high the course will pass a precautionary inspection at 8am this morning to allow the card, featuring the Blue Square Tolworth Hurdle, to take place.

"Putting down the covers is a big task at this place. It's a big old track with different widths and not easy to get to in certain areas," said clerk of the course Andrew Cooper.

"We've been perfectly raceable all day today, so we are covering up raceable ground. We have to be optimistic with the level of covers we have in place that we should be okay.

Today's only other remaining jumps fixture is at Wincanton where a precautionary inspection is planned for 8.30am. Having assessed conditions yesterday morning, clerk of the course Barry Johnson feels it prudent to look again.

He said: "We are raceable today, but the one downside is that it could get to as low as minus three degrees overnight.

"We will give it our best shot in getting the meeting on."

All-weather meetings at Lingfield and Kempton are also scheduled for today.