Haydock passes third inspection with all four jumps meetings in Britain and Ireland going ahead

Click here to add us to your Google preferred sources or find out more here

Haydock's Grand National Trial fixture passed a third inspection just before 11am.

Temperatures dropped to -2.8C at sunrise at the Merseyside track, creating a light frost crisp on uncovered areas.

It is forecast to rise to 3C by lunchtime, with the first race scheduled for 12.55, and conditions improved sufficiently for the meeting to be given the green light. The going is soft (from soft, heavy in places).

Clerk of the course Daniel Cooper said: "We've passed the inspection with the BHA and jockeys. There were some problem areas on the home straight that weren't frost covered. We just needed the time.

"The ground is now soft all around, we've taken the heavy out of the description. We've had a dry 24 hours since yesterday morning. It's likely to ride lovely in the home straight and may be a bit dead in the back straight."

Wincanton's Kingwell Hurdle card on Saturday was given the go-ahead this morning.

Conditions have eased to heavy (from heavy, soft in places) after almost 10mm of rain on Friday night but the track is raceable.

The Kingwell could play host to a Champion Hurdle contender, with Alexei set to warm up for the Cheltenham Festival in the Grade 2 event. Among his rivals is the Paul Nicholls-trained Rubaud.

Wincanton: Kingwell Hurdle meeting is onCredit: Edward Whitaker

Clerk of the course Tom Ryall said: "We had 9.6mm of rain between the hours of 4pm to 8.30pm, so a good four hours of showery rain. It was more than forecast but thankfully the track's taken it remarkably well. 

"We're heavy on both tracks but good to go. It helped that we had a good 32 hours of dry weather from Thursday to Friday. Today's a nice day with some sunny spells, so we're looking forward to some good racing."

There are no concerns at Ascot, where the going has improved for the Betfair Ascot Chase (3.35) card.

Temperatures have been above 0C since 6.30am at the Berkshire track, where the going is now good to soft, soft in places (from soft).

• Watch: Harry Wilson and Tom Park preview the weekend action on the Racing Postcast

Gowran card featuring the Grade 2 Red Mills Chase (3.40) card passed an inspection at 8am. The ground remains heavy.

Clerk of the course Paddy Graffin said: "Temperatures dropped to -4C overnight which did leave a layer of grass frost however the temperatures are already rising. A mainly cold and dry day is forecast with 3mm of rain possible later in the day."

The jumps fixture at Fairyhouse on Monday is subject to an inspection at 10am on Sunday due to concerns over waterlogging.

Brian Hamilton, IHRB clerk of the course, said: "Due to the heavy rain since entries we will hold an inspection on Sunday. We have had 44mm of rain since entries and parts of the track remain waterlogged.

"The team are working hard to remove the surface water and where raceable the ground is heavy. A further 4mm of rain is forecast before the fixture."

Lingfield's jumps card on Monday has already been lost due to a waterlogged track after the course failed an inspection at 1pm on Friday. There is all-weather action at the course on Saturday.

Read these next:

Patrick Mullins is in no doubt of his number-one pick among the Closutton aces bound for Cheltenham 

'To combine on one would be special' - Danny Mullins excited to ride big Cheltenham hopes for both his mother and father 

'He can come and we can go out for dinner!' - Nicky Henderson welcomes prospect of Willie Mullins and others taking on Constitution Hill 

Sign up to receive On The Nose, our essential daily newsletter, from the Racing Post. Your unmissable morning feed, direct to your email inbox every morning.