Snow, Inspections and Uncertainty: A Testing Few Days for Jump Racing
| Venue (Track) | Day | Status / Going |
|---|---|---|
| Kempton | Saturday | Go Ahead – Good, good to soft in places |
| Exeter | Friday | Go Ahead – Good to soft, soft in places |
| Naas | Friday | Go Ahead – Yielding, yielding to soft in places |
| Warwick | Saturday | Inspection scheduled – 2.00pm Friday |
| Fontwell | Sunday | Inspection scheduled – 9.00am Saturday (frost present) |
| Wolverhampton | Friday | Cancelled – Snow |
| Huntingdon | Friday | Cancelled |
| Southwell | Friday | Cancelled |
| Kelso | Sunday | Cancelled |
| Wetherby | Saturday | Cancelled |
Unsettled winter weather has played a decisive role in shaping the latest jump racing schedule across Britain and Ireland, with inspections, cancellations and cautious optimism dominating the conversation.
The biggest positive came from Kempton, where the highly anticipated Coral Lanzarote Handicap Hurdle card has been given the green light for Saturday. Officials brought the inspection forward after assessing the ground early on Friday morning, deciding conditions were raceable despite the lingering risk of snowfall later in the day. The going is currently described as good, good to soft in places, offering reassurance to connections planning their weekend campaigns.
However, the situation was far less favourable at Wolverhampton. Heavy snowfall overnight resulted in the cancellation of Friday Night Live, the opening fixture of the new evening racing series. With around four inches of snow and persistently low temperatures, officials concluded there was simply not enough time to prepare the all-weather surface safely, despite significant efforts from multiple racecourse teams.
Elsewhere, there was welcome news from both sides of the Irish Sea. Racing goes ahead at Exeter and Naas on Friday, following successful morning inspections. Exeter returns to action for the first time since its abandoned New Year’s Day fixture, though strong winds and showers may soften conditions further as the day progresses. The ground is currently good to soft, soft in places, with the potential to ease further depending on rainfall.
Naas also received approval for its jumps card, including the rescheduled Grade 1 novice hurdle. Conditions are expected to be yielding, yielding to soft in places, with a brighter, sunnier afternoon forecast to provide a more stable racing environment.
Attention now turns to Warwick, where the Classic Chase meeting remains subject to a 2pm inspection. Groundstaff are preparing for cold overnight temperatures, with support teams ready to fleece the track in an effort to protect conditions ahead of Saturday. The outcome of this inspection will be crucial for staying chasers targeting one of the season’s recognised tests.
Meanwhile, the broader picture highlights how disruptive the week has been. Multiple meetings have already been lost, including Southwell, Huntingdon, Kelso and Wetherby, while Fontwell faces an early inspection on Saturday morning due to lingering frost.
As winter continues to assert itself, the balance between safety and spectacle remains delicate. For now, Kempton’s confirmation provides a much-needed boost, while trainers, jockeys and punters keep a close eye on forecasts and inspection times across the racing calendar.
