Cheltenham Day One Going: Inspection at 10:30

Few parts of Cheltenham are frozen under the covers

Racecourse: Cheltenham
First Race Time: 13:30
Going: Soft
Other Information: INSPECTION AT 10.30AM. Frozen in a few places under the covers

A 10:30 inspection is required at Cheltenham before day one of the Festival gets the go-ahead after temperatures fell way below freezing on Monday night/Tuesday morning leaving a few parts of the track frozen under the covers.

Clerk of the course Simon Claisse was originally satisfied that the course would beat the freeze, but speaking on Channel 4's The Morning Line he said that he was 'hopeful' rather than confident that racing would go ahead, despite 90% of the track currently raceable.

But the worry now is that when the covers are lifted, with temperatures set to get just marginally above freezing throughout the morning, will the frozen parts thaw out in time?

If racing does go ahead then we're set for a fantastic afternoon with two high-class Grade 1 races opening the meeting, including the highly-promising Nicky Henderson duo of My Tent Or Yours (Supreme) and Simonsig (Arkle), before the day's feature - the Champion Hurdle - gets underway at approximately 15:20.

We'll bring you another update just as soon as there is anything to report.