RACING at Wetherby today hinges on an 8am inspection but officials are ‘‘reasonably hopeful’’ the meeting will go ahead.
Only small pockets remain of the snow that fell on Thursday and granted a frost-free night, hopes are high that the fixture, featuring the rearranged WBX.COM ‘‘Fighting Fifth’’ Hurdle, will take place.
‘‘We’ve had a good day. The temperatures from 11am were up to about five degrees. The snow is virtually all gone,’’ said clerk of the course Jonjo Sanderson.
‘‘There are still isolated areas on the track where snow is lying, but hopefully not enough to cause us a problem.
‘‘With that in mind and also because you never know with the weather, we have put in an 8am inspection.
‘‘There is a little bit of snow on the track. No frost is forecast but if it comes and it freezes we could be back to square one, but at this stage I’m reasonably hopeful we’ll be racing. We are forecast plus six tomorrow.’’ The going is described as soft, heavy in places on the chase course.
■ Henry de Bromhead reports Sizing Europe to be in fine fettle following his comeback at Punchestown last month and all roads now lead to the December Festival Hurdle at Leopardstown.
The six-year-old, an impressive winner of last season’s AIG Champion Hurdle, proved a disappointment in the Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March but it soon transpired injury scuppered his chance.
He seemed to be as good as ever when chasing home Hardy Eustace in the Maplewoods Development Hurdle on his comeback and De Bromhead is happy with his subsequent progress.
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