Racing: Frost bites again

FROST threatens the turf racing programme over the next few days, when further meetings may be frozen out to join abandoned fixtures at Hereford and Plumpton yesterday, and at Towcester today.

Newton Abbot's card today hinges on a 7.30am inspection. Sedgefield, Folkestone and Worcester on Wednesday are all already in doubt.

Folkestone's clerk of the course, Geoff Stickels, described the track as unraceable yesterday. At Worcester, where the course is frozen, the clerk of the course, Hugo Bevan, reported: 'Two to four inches of snow are forecast for Worcester tonight and we will probably call an inspection tomorrow.

'A thaw is forecast for tomorrow night but even if that happens we'd probably have problems as the course would be waterlogged.'

Sedgefield has no inspection plans, but the track is reported to be frozen.