Delight for jumps fans with no problems expected at Sandown or Leopardstown

Racing fans can look forward to a stunning Saturday with Sandown set to join Leopardstown in serving up a mouthwatering menu of jumping.

On Friday afternoon clerk of the course Andrew Cooper tweeted that no inspection was planned after all snow had melted and the covers had been removed.

Just as upbeat was Leopardstown chief executive Pat Keogh, who has "no concerns" for either day of the Dublin Racing Festival.

There was, however, bad news from Wetherby, whose Saturday fixture has been cancelled due to a frozen track, a fate that had already struck Musselburgh's two-day weekend meeting.

Up to three centimetres of snow fell at Sandown overnight on Thursday in advance of a meeting featuring the Grade 1 Scilly Isles Novices' Chase, and Buveur D'Air in the 888Sport Contenders Hurdle.

Cooper said on Friday: "The forecast suggests there will be little or no frost overnight, which had been the worry. In fact, the frost had started to shift remarkably quickly yesterday and by 2.30pm there wasn't much at all."

Sandown's going is described as soft with heavy places on the hurdles track and good to soft, soft in places on the chase course.

Leopardstown on Thursday revised its Saturday schedule and placed all races over fences to the end of the card in case the frost proved sharper than predicted. However, the weather is not expected to pose a problem.

Pat Keogh: 'The racecourse will be divided in two between owners, trainers and industry personnel on one side and the general public on the other.'Credit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Keogh said on Friday: "It's going to be cold National Hunt weather but we have no concerns for either Saturday or Sunday.

"We were always comfortable with the forecast and that remains the case. We're in a very good position and the track is in great shape. There is no frost at all in the ground."

As a result of the changes to Saturday's running order, the BHP Irish Champion Hurdle will now be run as the second race on the card at 1.25pm. The hurdles track is described as good to yielding, with the chase course posted as good.

Lingfield, Chelmsford and Kempton all stage all-weather fixtures on Saturday.

Weather prospects

Saturday

Lingfield (AW) Standard
Chelmsford (AW)Standard
MusselburghAbandoned
SandownChase course: Good to soft, soft in places. Hurdle course: Soft, heavy in places. No inspection planned.
WetherbyAbandoned
LeopardstownHurdle course: Good to yielding. Chase course: Good. Remaining dry on Friday with a maximum temperature of 3C. The overnight forecast is for -1C to -2C with the Saturday daytime high set to reach 4C and similarly so on Sunday. There is no frost in the ground.
Kempton (AW)Standard to Slow

Sunday
LeopardstownSame as Saturday. Hurdle course: Good to yielding.
Chase course: Good.
MusselburghAbandoned
Southwell (AW)Standard to Slow

Monday
Carlisle The track is frozen throughout but an improvement in the temperature is forecast for Sunday
Taunton Five inches of snow on the track and partially frozen. Track expected to thaw through Sunday with rain in the evening. Ground will be softer than the good/good to soft currently stated
Chelmsford (AW) Standard
Wolverhampton (AW) Standard

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