There will be an increase of over £1 million in prizemoney for the upcoming flat season in Ireland.

A total of £9.5 million was yesterday projected by the Irish Horseracing Authority as the prizemoney fund for the 1999 flat season. That compares to £8.45 million for 1998.

New minimum values have been introduced for black type races. A Listed race will be worth a minimum of £25,000, Group Three races will have a minimum value of £35,000 and £60,000 will be the minimum value for Group Twos.

Of the Group One races, the Irish Derby is expected to improve in value from £750,000 to £775,000 while the 1,000 Guineas will rise from £150,000 to £200,000.

The Irish Leger, the Heinz 57 and the Moyglare Stud Stakes will increase from £150,000 to £175,000 and the Champion Stakes is expected to be worth £250,000 compared to 1998s £200,000.

Today's meetings at Catterick and Haydock both hinge on 7.30 inspections this morning with both courses still affected by frost. The Catterick stewards found the track to be frozen in places after a 4.00 pm inspection yesterday. Hopes are also high that Haydock will beat the cold snap. There are no problems reported at Ayr where the going is described as soft.