RACING FIXTURES:JUMP RACING is set to resume at Plumpton today following a blank day yesterday but the extreme weather continues to eat into the fixture list. The Sussex venue has the added attraction of Tony McCoy, who has four chances of riding the double he needs to bring up 3,000 winners over jumps in Britain and Ireland.
Clerk of the course Mark Cornford is confident racing will take place, although more bad weather is forecast.
Today’s other jumps meeting at Wetherby was abandoned on Saturday because of snow and frost, while Wolverhampton have announced a precautionary inspection for 7.30am ahead of their all-weather card.
Prospects for tomorrow’s jumps programme at Newcastle look bleak and there will be an inspection at 8am today because of frost. “We have had a frost for six consecutive days and, at the moment, it’s hard to be optimistic,” said clerk of the course James Armstrong.
Heavy rain is predicted at Folkestone ahead of their meeting tomorrow. “At the moment we are raceable and we are hopeful. Obviously it clearly does depend on this weather tomorrow.”
It is little better for Wednesday’s turf meetings. Musselburgh is frozen and further frosts are forecast while Leicester is under six inches of snow.
Fairyhouse is still unraceable, putting the two-day fixture tomorrow and Wednesday in grave doubt.
An inspection yesterday found the course unfit due to snow and frost and a further inspection will take place at 8am this morning.
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