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Kempton and Musselburgh off

Snow has caused Kempton to be called offSnow has caused Kempton to be called off
© Photo Healy Racing

Punchestown hosts the only meeting in Britain and Ireland today after both Kempton and Musselburgh were called off due to the cold snap.

This afternoon's all-weather Flat fixture at Kempton has been abandoned due to snow.

An inspection had been called for 8am following a forecast for heavy snow, and six centimetres fell overnight at the Sunbury track.

Clerk of the course Brian Clifford said: "We had six centimetres overnight and sadly we have had to abandon.

"The machines we wanted to use this morning kept clogging up, and in the timeframe we had, with it being an afternoon meeting, it would be too big a gamble.

"It's not just the track, the general areas and infrastructure wouldn't be clear in time."

The National Hunt meeting at Musselburgh also fell to the weather with a frozen track.

Temperatures fell to minus 1C overnight and clerk of the course Harriet Graham said: "We were tantalisingly close, but we've still got frozen places and have abandoned.

"Unfortunately it got to minus 1C overnight and we are not due to get warmer temperatures until midday.

"It is really frustrating."

About Alan Magee
Alan has worked in the racing industry for well over 30 years including with the Sporting Life, Turform and Irish Racing Services. He took up his current role as Irish Racing Team Leader with the Press Association in 2013. He has a keen interest in most sports and plays golf.