Big Freeze

If the weather forecast is correct, then it is unlikely that there will be any turf racing in the UK after today until the middle of next week at the earliest. Cheltenham next Saturday possibly under threat? We are in the amber alert snow zone.

Kingmaker could be very interesting!

Snowed for much of the day though the course was completely covered to protect from frost a couple of days ago. Probably 3 inches but will be deeper in places where it has drifted. Stopped now.

Don't tell CVMichaelFishByrne that alleged. You'll be in trouble

Many many factors to consider when betting cheltenham races this year. Number of key races have been disrupted and all the key trials have been run on soft or heavy. If it comes up rattling fast (unlikely but possible) the markets would be in meltdown

great stuff,keep the reports going lads,its much appreciated

Haven't been near the course today but in town, temperatures higher than forecast and about half the lying snow has gone. Probably less at the course which is more exposed and the temperatures lower. Freezing again now and the main problem for the coming week appears to be overnight frosts. If as predicted on various weather websites, then not a prayer for next Saturday.

Be a huge shame if trials day is cancelled, looks a cracking card

Turftrax has the entire course as Soft (not frozen under covers)

http://www.turftrax.co.uk/going_maps.html

Still hope yet, 50/50 I reckon.

Freezing cold. Ice still on minor roads and pavements.

I'd be backing an adandonment on Saturday

Fairly big thaw yesterday afternoon but frost again last night with a very light dusting of snow. Still icy as I type but temperature due to get above freezing by mid morning. Might be more snow overnight and the extent of this will probably determine our fate. If it is minimal, then there must be a chance. If it is material, then we are fecked.

Cheltenham's fate rests on overnight snowfall

BY TOM KERR 9:26AM 22 JAN 2013

THE fate of Cheltenham's massive Saturday meeting should be far clearer as dawn rises on Wednesday morning and the quantity of overnight snowfall becomes apparent.

Should snowfall come in at the lower end of the forecast 1cm-2cm then the meeting would have a reasonable chance of going ahead, especially after a thaw on Monday removed some of the snow cover already coating the racecourse's frost covers.

Clerk of the course at Cheltenham, Simon Claisse, said on Tuesday morning: "We had a little bit of a thaw yesterday and quite a bit of the snow on the covers has diminished. Another cold night [last night] though and it's currently dry but snow forecast for tonight.

"We're forecast 1cm-2cm of snow which will leave us in the balance for the weekend.

"I am no more optimistic than I was yesterday, I've been saying since Sunday that it all depends on what we get tonight.

"Two centimetres on 300 covers at 400 square metres each, 120,000 square metres, is a mass of material, whereas 1cm is half of that volume, so we have to hope we either get nothing or at the lower end of the forecast."

Should racing go ahead a legion of star names could be in action at Cheltenham, including Sprinter Sacre, Bobs Worth, Oscar Whisky, Tidal Bay and The New One.

However, if Wednesday dawns with much snow added to that already lying on the course the forecast gives little chance of it clearing in time for Saturday.

Claisse added: "The forecast does not give much hope of a thaw. Temperatures are [due to be] -2C and -3C overnight, particularly cold on Wednesday morning at -6C, and daytimes are 1.5C or 2C.

"We had a little thaw yesterday and may get a little today, but the crucial thing is how much snow we get tonight."

Hope they can get it on Saturday. Lot of rain forecast overnight and might be waterlogged again come Sunday!

been snowing in chelt for last hour

of the evesham road by pitville gates still snowing ere m8 you

Cheltenham Festival Trials day will switch to Sunday if Saturday off
• British Horseracing Authority agree to transfer of card
• Channel 4 in talks with track on whether to televise
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The crucial Cheltenham Festival Trials day will be switched tom Sunday if Saturday's card has to be abandoned this weekend.
Cheltenham's star-studded card scheduled for Saturday can, if abandoned that day, be moved in its entirety to Sunday, following agreement on Tuesday between the racecourse and the sport's ruling body. Such an arrangement, while not uncommon in Ireland, is rare in Britain but the fixture is particularly significant after the loss of all jump racing since Thursday to bad weather and also because it offers a last chance for trainers to test their horses at Cheltenham before the March Festival.

A statement from the racecourse stressed that everything will be done to ensure the raceday goes ahead on Saturday if at all possible and described "increased hope . . . as a result of the hard work of the groundstaff in removing snow lying on the frost covers today". The track remains unfrozen and raceable beneath frost covers that have been in place for a week.

"However," the statement continued, "a further 1cm to 2cm of snow is forecast to fall tonight and, in the event that the course is unraceable, Cheltenham has reached agreement with the British Horseracing Authority that, weather permitting, Festival Trials Day could instead be staged 24 hours later on Sunday.

"Cheltenham is continuing to liaise with Channel 4 as to the possibility of Festival Trials Day being broadcast on the channel on Sunday, should the eight-race card be moved to that date."

The highlight of Festival Trials Day is the Argento Chase, in which the Gold Cup contenders Bobs Worth, Imperial Commander, Grands Crus and Tidal Bay are among the expected runners. Oscar Whisky's credentials for the World Hurdle will be tested in the Cleeve Hurdle, while Sprinter Sacre will take part in the Victor Chandler, salvaged from the card lost at Ascot last Saturday.

The possible resumption of jump racing on Wednesday depends on Ayr, where an inspection is arranged for 7.30am because of the threat of frost. Even the all-weather cards at Kempton and Lingfield are subject to early inspections, while the cards at Catterick and Exeter have been abandoned.

There will be no jump racing in Britain on Thursday, Fakenham having called off their card because of snow on the course. Warwick's card had already been lost.

Snow is also lying at Doncaster and Huntingdon and inspections will be held at both tracks on Wednesday with a view to assessing their chances of staging cards scheduled for Friday.

Still snowing but it is very wet and not freezing at the moment. See what the morning brings!

Hopefully not too much damage done. Claisse will tell us soon, no doubt. Very hard frost due tonight but forecast temperatures for tomorrow now much higher than given a couple of days ago.....local radio talking about 5 or 6 degrees. I'm cautiously optimistic and worst case scenario would appear to be Sunday and flippers!

Met Office website has it not coming above freezing in Cheltenham tomorrow. It gets up to 5 on Friday night though and stays above freezing all day Saturday, and Sunday looks like a shorts and t-shirt day; so if its off Saturday, there should be no problems at all staging it Sunday.