Cheltenham passes morning inspection

This afternoon’s meeting at the Cheltenham festival has survived an early-morning inspection and goes ahead as scheduled.

Although overnight temperatures dipped to a shuddering minus 7C, clerk of the course Simon Claisse was able to give the fixture the thumbs-up at first light.

The chase course and hurdles course have been passed fit — with the going good to soft, soft in places — but the cross-country track, due to stage the Glenfarclas Handicap Chase, must still pass an 11am inspection.