Racing set to be decimated by freezing conditions

The cold snap has started to take its toll on Britain's jumps meetings with both Uttoxeter and Warwick called off early today.

Officials at Warwick abandoned this afternoon's meeting due to a frozen track after overnight frost.

Clerk of the course Andrew Morris was left with no choice. He said: "We went down to minus five and a half degrees last night.

"There is frost in the ground and no chance of it coming out."

There was a similar story at Uttoxeter where clerk of the course Keith Ottesen had planned a 7.30am inspection but was forced to make an earlier call.

He said: "The temperature has risen a little but that gives us no chance of getting the frost out."

The prospects for tomorrow's big meeting at Cheltenham are a little brighter despite a precautionary inspection being announced.

Clerk of the course Simon Claisse is confident of racing despite the freezing conditions.

He said: "We are currently raceable despite temperatures dropping to minus seven last night. We have a forecast of minus four tonight and have the possibility of some fog tomorrow and will hold a precautionary inspection at 8am."

Exeter and Fakenham are due to hold inspections later today ahead of tomorrow's meetings.