Musselburgh and Fontwell to inspect

SUNDAY'S meetings at Fontwell and Musselburgh are subject to inspections.

Fontwell, where temperatures dropped to -5.5C on Thursday nightand snow is forecast for Saturday night, will inspect at 12.30pm on Saturday.

"With the forecasts it's going to be pretty challenging to get the meeting on," clerk of the course Edward Arkell said on Friday morning.

"There is just the chance the snow coming in could turn to rain which would help, but everyone's saying it will be snow.

"We'll take a look tomorrow and will know much more then."

Fontwell's card on Sunday is set to start at 1.40, while the action at Musselburgh begins at 1.30, but the course must pass an inspection at 7am.

Officials there are hopeful of racing and clerk of the course Harriet Graham said on Friday: "We are really quite optimistic. Temperatures dipped just below freezing overnight when we were told it was going to get to -5C. It's a sunny morning and it should get up to 3C and it's not supposed to dip below freezing tonight.

"Tomorrow we are expecting rain and sleet and temperatures of 5C which should get rid of any remaining frost. On Saturday night it should hover around freezing again but Sunday morning we are forecast 6Cso we are very hopeful. We have covered the vulnerable areas but not the whole course. We wouldn't race today but we must be very hopeful for Sunday with the forecast."

Find out what the prospects are for forthcoming fixtures in Britain and Ireland with our at-a-glance guide