Which tracks are inspecting in Britain and Ireland and how are things looking this weekend?

After heavy rain in the lead-up to Saturday's British Champions Day bonanza at Ascot, the races over a mile and a quarter, mile and a half and two miles have been switched to the inner track due to the round course turning heavy.

Prospects for turf racing in Britain

Saturday

Ascot – straight course: soft; inner course: good to soft, soft in places
The three races scheduled for the round course – the Long Distance Cup, the Fillies & Mares Stakes and the Champion Stakes – have been switched to the inner course after an independent assessment of the going description.

Catterick – Heavy (passed a Saturday 8am inspection)
The going will be heavy after 32mm of rain fell within the 24 hours before raceday. The forecast is for an overcast day on Saturday.

Market Rasen – cancelled due to waterlogged track

Newton Abbot – Heavy (passed a Saturday 7am inspection)
The going at the Devon track will be heavy after 29mm of rain fell on Wednesday and Thursday before a dry day on Friday. Light showers and 2-3mm of rain is forecast for Saturday morning. It will clear by lunchtime and will be followed by a dry, cloudy afternoon.

Stratford – cancelled due to waterlogged track

Sunday

Kempton – good
Clerk of the course Barney Clifford said: "We stopped watering on Tuesday afternoon in view of the rain that could be rolling in. But it depends which way the wind blows as to whether we get it and we will decide on Thursday if we need to water again – our aim is good ground."

Sedgefield – soft
Clerk of the course Michael Naughton said: "The forecast says that we could get between 30mm and 40mm of rain but the ground has been good at our first two meetings and we haven't had any significant rain since, so we could definitely take it."

The situation in Ireland

Limerick and Leopardstown passed Saturday morning inspections for their afternoon cards.

The going at Limerick, which is set to host the Munster National on Sunday, is heavy after receiving 25mm of rain during the week.

The ground is also heavy at Leopardstown after 10mm of rain fell early on Friday.

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