Racing: Catterick abandoned but Leicester hope to beat frost

There was optimism among officials at Leicester racecourse last night that today's card can survive the cold snap which has claimed eight jumps meetings in the past week.

The temperature dipped sharply again yesterday evening but the East Midlands track had been raceable earlier in the day. The clerk of the course, Nick Lees, said: "We're going to have a precautionary inspection at 9am. The course was fit to race today at about one o'clock, even though we had minus six last night. We're expecting a frost tonight but we don't think it will be as heavy as yesterday and the temperature should rise."

Today's other turf meeting at Catterick was called off after a 2pm inspection yesterday. Jonjo Sanderson, the clerk of the course said: "Minus six last night proved too much. There is still frost in the ground now."