A provisional all-chase card has been programmed by the British Horseracing Authority for Sandown on Friday in an attempt to safeguard the fixture.

This will consist of the three chases originally scheduled plus three additional chase opportunities.

All additional races will be free to enter and a final decision on whether the existing hurdle races will be abandoned and the provisional chases activated will be made at 8am on Thursday.

Andrew Cooper, clerk of the course at Sandown, said: "We saw 17mm of rain at Sandown Park on Sunday followed by snow yesterday morning. As a result parts of the hurdle course are currently saturated. We are expecting further rain here on Thursday, with some forecasts suggesting as much as 10mm.

"In order to give ourselves the best chance of staging a day's racing here on Friday we have asked BHA to provisionally schedule an all-chase card with six races."

Sandown's going is currently described as heavy, with soft places in the back straight.

Meanwhile officials at Musselburgh have called a precautionary inspection for 8am on Wednesday ahead of the meeting that afternoon. Ground conditions are described as good, but with a "tricky forecast".

Clerk of the course Harriet Graham tweeted: "Precautionary Inspection 8am due to forecast snow starting between 7-9am changing to sleet/rain later +3 Tricky forecast."

An 8am precautionary inspection has also been called for Wednesday's meeting at Thurles due to the uncertainty of the weather forecast.

13 May 2013

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11 May 2013

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10 May 2013

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