The British horse racing programme faces a fresh battle with the elements this weekend, as a deep freeze threatens to disrupt valuable Saturday fixtures at Warwick and Kempton. Both courses have called for precautionary inspections at 8am on Saturday morning due to forecasts of sub-zero overnight temperatures.
Precautionary Checks as Temperatures Plummet
Officials at both tracks have adopted a cautious approach following revised weather forecasts. Kempton Park, initially declared fit for racing on Friday afternoon, reversed its decision as the predicted overnight low worsened. Clerk of the course Barney Clifford explained the situation, stating, "We’re now forecast a -2C or possibly -3C frost tonight, so it’s prudent to call a precautionary inspection."
The story is similar at Warwick, where clerk of the course Nessie Chanter reported the track as "raceable at present." However, with a forecast of -2C frost between 4am and 8am, an 8am inspection was deemed necessary to ensure participant safety and racing integrity.
Key Races in the Balance
The potential postponements put several feature races in jeopardy. The highlight at Kempton is the Lanzarote Handicap Hurdle (3.17), which has attracted a competitive field of 17 runners. Trainer Dan Skelton, victorious in this race for the past two seasons, aims for a hat-trick with his charge, A Pai De Nom. The six-year-old has won three times this season but faces his toughest task yet.
Among the rivals, Fasol, trained by Paul Nicholls and ridden by his daughter Olive, has emerged as an eye-catching contender following two consecutive wins. The seven-year-old is priced around 12-1 and is considered a strong candidate to complete a hat-trick of his own.
Saturday's Selected Tips
Should the meetings go ahead, here is a selection of tips for the key races:
- Kempton 3.17: Fasol (nap)
- Warwick 2.55: Mr Vango (nb)
- Kempton 2.40: Kalif Du Berlais
- Warwick 2.25: Soldier's Leap
At Warwick, the Grade Two novice chase (1.52) presents a fascinating contest, with Moon Rocket looking attractively priced if he can recapture the form of his chase debut. Meanwhile, the Warwick 3.32 sees the progressive Lud D'Or stepping up to three miles, a move expected to suit.
Nationwide Chill Disrupts Sport
The cold snap impacting the racing programme was vividly illustrated earlier in the week, with images emerging of racehorses from Adam Nicol Racing training in snowy conditions against the dramatic backdrop of Bamburgh Castle in Northumberland. The widespread frost serves as a stark reminder of the challenges faced by winter sports in the UK.
All connections will now await the critical 8am inspections. The decisions made will determine whether a full day of top-quality jumps racing can proceed or if the British winter has once again thrown a spanner in the works.
