Lingfield on standby as Wetherby falls to the freeze on Saturday

Lingfield is standing by to help out ITV Racing on Saturday with the freeze threatening to wipe out the scheduled coverage from Sandown and Wetherby.

Even if Sandown fails to beat the weather, the ITV4 cameras and crew will be at the Esher track to present The Opening Show, hosted by Oli Bell at 9.30am.

Currently ITV4 is scheduled to cover four races from Sandown and three from Wetherby in the afternoon show that runs from 1.30-4.00pm.

If Wetherby is abandoned, ITV4 is ready to turn to old friend Lingfield on the Polytrack, although this would require start times to be changed if Sandown survives.

Lingfield, which hosts two fast-track qualifiers ahead of Good Friday's AW Championship Finals day, races just five minutes before the start of the Sandown card.

Should Sandown succumb to the freeze, ITV4 is ready to explore options of being able to take races from the other all-weather meeting at Chelmsford or, tantalisingly, from the first day of the Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown.

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