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Wetherby waits on course inspection as freeze strikes
AN early morning inspection will determine whether Wetherby has any chance of salvaging day two of its Christmas meeting as the big freeze continues to decimate the racing programme.
Today's meeting was called off on Christmas Eve after the forecast thaw failed to materialise. And, with Arctic-like conditions gripping the region, officials will decide at 9am today whether tomorrow's Castleford Chase card can go ahead.
If the meeting does survive the elements – and it must be doubtful given the amount of frost underfoot and no significant temperature increases imminent – Yorkshire chaser Calatagan will seek a third victory in the feature.
Trained near Malton by Malcolm Jefferson, this quirky character – who relishes soft going – was victorious in 2006 and 2007 but is unfortunately winless since the latter of those successes.
He was a well-beaten fifth on his latest appearance at Haydock but he clearly saves his best performances for the West Yorkshire venue and he has dropped to a handy mark if he can bring his A-game to the table.
Market Rasen joined Sedgefield, Towcester and Wetherby as Boxing Day abandonments
yesterday, while today's meetings at Wincanton and Huntingdon must pass inspections today.
No problems are foreseen for Wolverhampton's all-weather fixture, or the prestigious King George VI Chase at Kempton where Kauto Star is seeking an unprecedented fourth successive victory in the race.
With the covers at the Surrey course due to be removed today, racegoers can almost certainly be guaranteed two exhilarating days of action.
Tomorrow's highlight will be the appearance of Well Chief, one of the Racing Post's horses of the decade, in the williamhill.com Desert Orchid Chase.
The talented but fragile 10-year-old was part of a golden era of two-mile chasers that also involved Moscow Flyer and Azertyuiop and while the latter two are now enjoying retirement, Well Chief is back for another crack after plenty of time off with injury.
David Pipe produced arguably one of the greatest training performances of last season when Well Chief returned from almost two years off the track to finish second to Master Minded in the Champion Chase and he enjoyed a rare trouble-free summer after that.
He recorded an emotional triumph on his comeback at Cheltenham, reversing form with Master Minded, before finishing a distant third in the Tingle Creek at Sandown this month.
That was perhaps slightly disappointing but he probably is not up to running at the top level any more and with a few of the top boys absent, this looks a good opportunity for Well Chief to hit the target.
The younger brigade get their chance to shine in the williamhill.com Novices' Chase on the same card and Riverside Theatre is taken to strike for Nicky Henderson.
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Weather for Yorkshire
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: East
