Cheltenham officials remain "very, very confident" Festival Trials Day will not have to be held over until Sunday.

Saturday's hugely important jumps fixture could be restaged 24 hours later if the track is found unraceable at a 7am inspection on raceday morning, but with the frost covers having been lifted, allied to a favourable overnight forecast, hopes are high the meeting will defeat the elements.

"All the frost covers are up, although we've left some sheets down on the take-off and landing areas in case it gets cold. All the public areas are cleared, which is also good news," said Cheltenham communications director Andy Clifton.

"It's very cold because it's very windy but, as things stand, we remain very, very confident. If the forecast is right, which they have largely been this week, I think we might be able to give the meeting the go-ahead before 7am."

Lingfield's meeting on the all-weather is also subject to a 7am inspection due to the threat of snow. As was the case earlier in the week, groundstaff will be working the track overnight to try to prevent the snow from settling on the track.

Officials at Leopardstown are confident this weekend's top-class two-day fixture will go ahead despite calling an 8am precautionary inspection ahead of Saturday's card.

Although the Foxrock venue was hit by further rain on Friday afternoon, conditions remain raceable and racing and operations manager Nessa Joyce is hopeful day one of the meeting will beat the weather.

Joyce, speaking at 4pm, said: "It's a precautionary inspection as we are perfectly raceable at the moment and at this stage, I'm not too worried. We had a sharp blast of rain about an hour ago and we're really inspecting because there is more rain forecast and it's not clear how much we're going to get."

Lingfield's National Hunt meeting on Tuesday will now be run as a 'jumpers' bumpers' meeting instead. The turf course is currently waterlogged, with further rain forecast.

Leicester has made provisions to run its meeting on Wednesday as an all-chase card. Four extra races over fences have been provisionally programmed and a final decision will be taken by 3pm on Monday.

13 May 2013

Fabre confirms Ocovango for Epsom
Aspect on route to big things
Room at the top for Cityscape
Freedom steps into chasing ranks
Lucky thirteen in line for Lockinge
Galway beckons for Swinton hero
Sajjhaa set for late return
Cadeaux thriving in Singapore
Pink primed for Duke Of York
Liber takes aim at Musidora
Battle won for O'Brien
Pretending the real deal
Duntle back to winning ways
Classic glory for Flotilla
Style wins the day in Paris
Highclere double-handed for Dante
Cornerstone plans up in the air
Beckett planning Gesture workout

12 May 2013

No hurry for Jammy plans
Guest in hunt for more Ascot glory
Vow set for Goodwood return
Gold-en boy Anodin in Classic hunt
Buick aiming for French strike
Angel flies home to land Chartwell
Barizan bounces back in style
Queally lights up Ascot meeting
Ektihaam storms to Buckhounds win
Nevis takes depleted Trial contest
Hard-fought battle won at Haydock
Secret impresses in Oaks Trial
Ascot drama for Fanning

11 May 2013

Felix foot-perfect on fencing debut
Cavalryman leads Cup charge
Ramsa ready to stand Trial
Duntle out to dazzle in Amethyst
Swift return doesn't bother Moran
Garman gives Bolger hope
Henderson: Ground vital for Voice
McMahon sweet on Tart Ascot claims
Murphy to move to France
Athos flies to Ormonde glory
Dee day for impressive Magician
Kingdom confirmed for Queen Anne
Secret's out for Lingfield glory
Lambe expects good run from Hall
Marengo ready to do battle
Greatwood on trial at Lingfield
Barizan sneaks into Swinton
Jamesie gunning for Vic-tory

10 May 2013

Telescope focus is on Dante
Blinkers considered for Guarantee#
Bonfire camp bemoan Huxley flop
Moohaajim has six appeal
Ascot welcomes a couple of Guests