Racing:Officials at Ascot have been left with no option but to abandon Saturday's high-profile meeting, with conditions showing no signs of improvement.
The English course was hit with between three to four inches of overnight snow and although frost covers were deployed over the whole track, clerk of the course Chris Stickels was forced to call off today’s card.
Stickels soon announced a 4pm inspection to assess the prospects of racing tomorrow, for a card featuring the Grade One Long Walk Hurdle and the Ladbroke, but he has decided to make an early call.
“Having had a chance to look at things in detail, and assess the weather forecast, we have decided to make an early decision and abandon the meeting,” said Stickels.
“There is so much snow on the track it is going to be impossible to move it all and that means we were going to need a significant thaw today, which we are not going to get.
“It’s obviously very disappointing as we were expecting a big crowd for what was a great card.
“But as soon as it became apparent things weren’t going to improve enough, we thought we would call it off so everyone can make other arrangements.”
There was better news for racegoers on this side of the Irish Sea with Downpatrick has given the all-clear.
Although the fear of frost had put the fixture under a cloud, a 7am inspection produced a positive outcome.
The ground remains yielding to soft, with racing due to commence at 12.30am.
Navan must stage a 7.30am inspection on Saturday morning ahead of their fixture on the same day. A heavy overnight frost has put the meeting in doubt, with the chase track currently unraceable.
Cliff Noone, Irish Turf Club press officer, said: “The forecast is for wintry, scattered showers and a severe overnight frost. They are currently happy with the hurdle course, but the forecast is a concern.”