Southwell cancels Tuesday's all-weather evening meeting after snow-hit track fails second inspection

Southwell's all-weather evening meeting has been cancelled after failing its second inspection due to significant snowfall and cold temperatures.

A yellow weather warning across parts of Britain was issued by the Met Office up until 11am on Tuesday. Officials assessed conditions at 10am, and did so again at 11.30am, but the meeting was called off with the snow impacting the track.

Clerk of the course John Holliday said: "The team did their bit to get it on and we'd got most of the snow off the track, but the temperatures did not rise enough to get all of the snow and ice out of the surface.

"There was still little pockets of ice when we were working it and we couldn't get rid of it all, or guarantee that it could be out of the surface in time."

Southwell stage another all-weather evening fixture on Thursday. Holliday added: "We're positive for then and we'll work through the night if we need to, as the cold temperatures will still be about. We aren't fit for today but are confident we will be for Thursday."

However, Carlisle's Tuesday meeting has been given the go-ahead after passing an inspection at 8am, with officials continuing to monitor conditions during the day. 

Clerk of the course Harry Phipps said: "We've passed the inspection after snow didn't materialise at the track overnight. The course coped with the low temperatures very well and we're hoping we can get up to 3C too. The track has done really well."

The jumps meetings at Warwick and Hexham on Wednesday must pass inspections on raceday morning due to the threat of low temperatures.

The going at Warwick is good to soft, but temperatures could drop below freezing at the track overnight and officials will check conditions at 7am.

Warwick's clerk of the course Nessie Chanter said at 8.15am: "We had 11mm of rainfall yesterday and 8mm more rain overnight, but we also had 2cm of snow overnight. We're expecting the dusting to continue until around 11am and then temperatures will hopefully rise in the afternoon before going to -1C overnight.

"We're cautiously optimistic about racing, but we'll need a bit of luck as there's a fair bit of melting of snow required."

The going at Hexham is good but temperatures could reach -3C overnight at the Northumberland track and an 8am inspection has been called.

Hexham's clerk of the course James Armstrong said at 9.40am: "Walking the track now, the majority of areas are raceable and because it's been so dry, there's not loads of moisture in the ground. We'd probably have been fine racing today, but it's tonight's forecast that could be an issue.

"It's going to be a bit colder tonight with prolonged lower temperatures and it could be -2C or -3C, with temperatures not getting any higher than 2C tomorrow during the day. The forecasts are aligning to say we can expect that outlook, so we need to have a look."

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