Lingfield's Winter Million fixture goes ahead on Sunday; Envoi Allen misses Allaho clash at Thurles

Lingfield's high-quality Winter Million jumps card has been given the green light after the track passed its morning inspection.

Sub-zero temperatures have scuppered the week's jumping programme with Lingfield's opening day of the Winter Million on Friday among notable cancellations due to frozen ground along with Saturday's Premier fixtures at Ascot and Haydock.

However, it has been significantly warmer this weekend so turf racing will return in Britain for the first time since Wednesday. The jumps action is headlined by L'Homme Presse and Protektorat clashing in the Fleur de Lys Chase (3.00), the feature on the eight-race card. 

It was the second inspection for this fixture after the track was first assessed on Saturday afternoon.

Lingfield's clerk of the course Stephanie Wethered said: "We felt the track was showing all the right signs so it's good to go. We're really pleased and looking forward to it.

"Huge credit to not only the Lingfield team but all of those who have come to support us and help us get today on – we've had teams from our sister tracks at Windsor, Brighton, Fontwell, Ffos Las, Worcester and Bath. We've had a few from different tracks and they've been a huge help with getting the fleece off and preparing."

The ground at Lingfield eased to soft, good to soft in places following light rain overnight.

Wethered added: "It's nice ground out there, especially considering what we've been dealing with. We changed to good to soft, soft in places after our 2pm inspection on Saturday afternoon as it eased with the frost coming out and we've changed it again.

"We had a little bit of rain overnight as well as the frost coming out. It'll be overcast and breezy this afternoon. We're forecast some sunny spells at times with temperatures up to 10C to12C during the day."

Updated at 10.30am

Envoi Allen out while Thurles to monitor conditions

Envoi Allen is a non-runner in the key race at Thurles on Sunday, the Horse & Jockey Hotel Chase (1.35), due to coughing.

Last season's Ryanair Chase winner was set to clash with the fellow Cheveley Park-owned Allaho in the Grade 2 contest in his warm-up for the Cheltenham Festival. 

Meanwhile, Thurles will monitor conditions after Met Eireann issued a yellow weather warning for wind across Ireland on Sunday.

Envoi Allen: misses Thurles on SundayCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Strong gusts from Storm Isha are expected to be strongest in the north of Ireland but could reach as high as 24mph during racing on Sunday. 

It is also expected to remain wet after the ground eased to yielding to soft from yielding for the seven-race jumps card.

A post from the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board on X read: "Following 10mm of rain since declarations, Thurles is now yielding to soft. 

"There is a status yellow wind warning from 11am and the possibility of a further 5mm of rain. The situation will be continually monitored."

The Met Office has issued an amber weather warning for wind in parts of Scotland and the north of England, while a yellow warning for rain is in place across Britain.

Updated at 10.30am

Non-runners

Lingfield

12.40
9 Sweet Fantasy (going)

2.25
11 Classic Concorde (travel)

3.35
4 Manothepeople (going)
14 O'Connell (going)

4.10
4 Rich Spirit (going)

Thurles

1.35
1 Envoi Allen (coughing)

2.10
4 Capodanno (temperature)

3.20
2 Cougar (going)
6 Clonshire River (going)
10 Marvel Fan (going)
12 Yulong Voice (ran yesterday)

Updated at 10.30am

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A mini-Ryanair Chase as Allaho takes on Envoi Allen and Appreciate It in a Thurles thriller 

Returning L'Homme Presse bids to reassert authority against Protektorat in classy Fleur de Lys Chase 

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