TODAY'S televised meeting at Chepstow became yet another blow to jumping fans yesterday as the frost refused to release its grip on the racing programme.

Clerk of the course Rodger Farrant, who was forced to abandon after an early afternoon inspection, explained: "There is just the very odd patch of frost and we were very close to being OK. But there has been no rise in temperature today and another frost is forecast for tonight. So it would be daft not to call the meeting, off with no prospect of it improving.

However, prospects for today's Agfa Diamond Chase meeting at Sandown have improved thanks to a rise in temperatures.

Yesterday's card at Folkestone, became another casualty when a mid-morning deterioration in conditions caused the abandonment due to frost, and Monday's meeting at Fontwell is the latest fixture to be put in jeopardy by the cold snap.