Racing:Saturday's big English race meeting at Newbury has been abandoned due to snow despite frost covers having been down for nearly two weeks.
However, following 4cm of snow overnight course officials were left with no choice.
With the likes of Long Rung, Sprinter Sacre and Zarkandar all due to have a run before Cheltenham, there is the possibility of the meeting being rearranged.
“We’ve had to abandon,” said clerk of the course Richard Osgood. “There’s snow on the covers and there is no predicted rise in temperatures or rain which would help shift it.
“There have been preliminary discussions about restaging the fixture and we are looking to hold it next week but at this stage I know nothing more than that.”
This afternoon’s card at Kempton has been given the green light after an 8am inspection.
Originally a National Hunt fixture had been scheduled but the prospect of overnight snow earlier in the week forced officials into a change of plan.
Despite rearranging to an all-weather card, snow was still an issue and 4cm fell on Thursday night.
Thankfully, clerk of the course Barney Clifford and his team got to work on it early enough to prevent the meeting joining the list of casualties.
“We had 4cm of snow but we’ve been power harrowing the track and so far we are raceable,” said Clifford. “We will continue to do that and at this stage there is nothing to worry us.”
