Fine Suny prospects

Hopes are high that normal service can be resumed for racing today despite the first cold snap of the winter. Each of the three tracks scheduled to race missed the worst of the weather which wiped out yesterday's Wetherby card.

No problems are expected at Haydock, which sees the reappearance of last year's Cheltenham Gold Cup third, Couldnt Be Better, in the Edward Hanmer Memorial Chase.

It is a similar story at Hereford, where the clerk of the course, John Williams, said: "We had a bare covering of snow but it went in 10 minutes." And at Kempton a course spokesman explained: "We had quite a bit of snow but nothing settled because it was raining."

Nevertheless, Charlie Brooks is taking no chances over a prep-race for his leading Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup hope Suny Bay, whom he has declared for both the Limber Hill Chase at Kempton and the Edward Hanmer at Haydock. Kempton is the preferred destination.