Ayr check for frost

Rain is neck and neck with frost in the race to become the most disruptive influence to the Boxing Day racing programme. A thick band of rain is predicted to push south during the weekend followed by sleet, snow and frost.

A warning of snow on northern hills will not cause Kempton's clerk of the course, Michael Webster, sleepless nights, but the threat of further rain is another matter. "We have had two inches of rain in the last five days," Webster said. "At the moment there is some good ground but a lot of soft."

Ayr's meeting is in greater jeopardy. The track's manager, Mark Kershaw, said: "The course is raceable at the moment but there is a severe frost forecast and in view of that we will hold a precautionary inspection at 11.30am on Sunday."