Frost puts jumps fixtures under threat

Today's two jumps fixtures at Kempton and Warwick are subject to 7.30 morning inspections as frost started to bite as the weekend approaches.

The only jumps meeting yesterday at Huntingdon was finally frozen off after three inspections.

The main worry at Kempton, where racing is also scheduled tomorrow with the Racing Post Chase as the feature, is the threat of snow in the morning. "At 1 p.m. it became quite pleasant and later the course was raceable which is a good sign, but we will continue to monitor the situation," said clerk of the course Brian Clifford.

If today's meeting is called off, the betfair.com Rendlesham Hurdle will be switched to tomorrow's card. It will be the second event on an eight-race programme.

Warwick, where racing is also due to take place tomorrow, were "just about raceable" yesterday. "We are a bit more optimistic than we were this morning. We were just about raceable today at about the time of the first race will be tomorrow. In fact we have been raceable all week," said racecourse manager Christian Leech.

"The forecast is still poor with a forecast of minus four tonight, but it should get up to plus five. As long as the sun gets up soon enough we are hopeful."

No problems are reported at today's all-weather Flat meeting at Wolverhampton.

The most valuable race tomorrow is the £120,000 Red Square Vodka Gold Cup at Haydock where prospects are rated 50-50. "It's been a dry and bright day and all the frost came out of the ground so we could have raced today," said clerk of the course Kirkland Tellwright.

The fourth jumps meeting is at Chepstow where there is snow on the track, but no inspection has been called yet "We've had two inches of snow this afternoon. It's stopped now and it's starting to thaw," said clerk of the course Tim Long. "We'll just have to see what appears during the night and tomorrow."

Meanwhile, Johnny Murtagh showed that he has lost none of his magic when giving Scotty's Future a good ride to win the betdirect.co.uk New Site Selling Stakes for his new boss David Loder at Lingfield yesteray.

Murtagh showed plenty of dash to send the 4 to 5 favourite through a gap well inside the final furlong to beat Absolute Utopia by a neck. Murtagh was returning after being off for four months due to recurring weight problems: "That was magnificent. I needed it. I got a good ride all the way round."