OFFICIALS AT Sandown are hopeful of beating the frost to stage their meeting tomorrow featuring the Blue Square Tolworth Hurdle. A precautionary inspection will be held at 8am on race-day after an initial look at noon yesterday found that conditions had improved with 95 per cent of the track raceable.

The course will be covered tonight in a bid to protect it from a forecast sharp frost. "We hope by close of play tomorrow to have the track covered up," said clerk of the course Andrew Cooper yesterday.

"It has improved all day today and we'll take stock of things in the morning. We could do with plus temperatures again tomorrow to sort out the last remaining bits of the track."

Tomorrow's jumps fixture at Wincanton is subject to an 8am inspection this morning. The take-offs and landings will be protected and officials there also remain hopeful.

However, the cold weather has claimed the two-day fixture at Ayr today and tomorrow. "The track is completely frozen. We got down to minus four last night and we have another minus five forecast tonight," said clerk of the course Katherine Self. "We have no chance of racing on either day so we have had to abandon."

Today's meeting at Folkestone will also have to pass a precautionary inspection at 7.30am but officials are optimistic.

Catterick were forced to abandon their New Year's Day meeting after the track failed to pass an 8am inspection yesterday.