Denman (leading) is set to be the star attraction if racing goes ahead

  PICTURE: Mark Cranham  

Newbury clerk optimistic for Saturday card

NEWBURY'S clerk of the course Richard Osgood said on Monday that Saturday's star-studded meeting should survive the return of freezing temperatures and snow flurries.

Reporting the ground to be good to soft, soft in places on Monday afternoon, he said: "At the moment I would say we'll be okay for Saturday. With the covers down, we should be able to take temperatures down to -3C or -4C.

"Forecasters say we might get -2C some nights, occasionally a bit colder than that - so all in all we should be okay."

A Met Office spokeswoman said on Monday: "It will be remaining cold, with snow showers around. Daytime temperatures on Tuesday will get up to around 3C or 4C.

"On Wednesday the snow showers will turn into sleet going into Thursday. Friday should be dry, with temperatures below freezing.

"We do have an advisory out for an area to the east of Newbury for Thursday and Frday, as there could be a few centimetres of snow."

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