Ascot Racecourse call inspection ahead of BetVictor Day
By Rob Stevens • Published 18 Jan 2013 09:56
0 Comments
Share this
click to enlarge
Sprinter Sacre, ante-post favourite for the Champion Chase, is scheduled to step up his Cheltenham Festival preparations at Ascot Racecourse on Saturday. Picture by Sue Orpwood.
See also:
ASCOT Racecourse must pass an inspection at 4:30pm today [Friday] for the much anticipated BetVictor Day to be given the go-ahead.
The headline action on Saturday comes from the Berkshire track where Sprinter Sacre, arguably the most exciting horse in training, is set to step up his Cheltenham Festival preparation in the feature Victor Chandler Chase.
A post on the official Ascot Racecourse Twitter feed at 9am read: "There has been light snow from 8.15am, much earlier than expected, and it is beginning to settle. We will make further updates during the day."
Chris Stickles, clerk of the course at Ascot said on Thursday: "I've looked under the covers where I can, including the most vulnerable places, and haven't found anything that's not raceable.
"There's evidence of some frost under the covers but not enough to be a concern at this stage.
"We're due another -3C frost tonight and then a high risk of snow on Friday from lunchtime, according to the majority of forecasts.
"It's anything from light flurries to quite a substantial amount; the forecast is not particularly clear."
He continued: "There is no point calling an inspection in the morning because we are raceable at the moment, and quite likely to be raceable in the morning.
"A Friday afternoon check gives me time to have a proper look under the covers. If it's obvious we have problems I'll bring the inspection forward."
**PICK up a copy of the Bracknell News, out now, for all the latest sports news and action**
This article appeared in Bracknell News 18 Jan 13
Return to the main index, get more from this section or browse our Sport archives.
