Hopes were rising yesterday that today's meeting at Kempton, which features the Racing Post Chase, could beat the freeze.

Yesterday's meeting at the track was abandoned due to frost and although freezing temperatures were forecast again last night, clerk of the course Brian Clifford issued a more upbeat bulletin than earlier in the day.

He said: "We became raceable at 3.30 p.m, so now we are going into the night with the track raceable. We are forecast minus four overnight, but we are also forecast sunny spells from early in the morning, with temperatures going up to five degrees. The situation is improving."

The meeting still hinges on a 7 a.m. inspection, though, and officials at Haydock and Warwick are also due to take a look as the cold snap threatens to knock out today's jumps cards. The scheduled meeting at Chepstow has already been abandoned.

Haydock will hold an inspection at 7.30 a.m. ahead of their card, which includes the £120,000 Red Square Vodka Gold Cup. Clerk of the course Kirkland Tellwright said: "We could probably have raced today. We've only got a very light covering of snow and we had a temperature of minus two, so if it's the same tomorrow we'll be fine."

Warwick were also forced to abandon their meeting yesterday and they will hold a 7.30 a.m. inspection to assess prospects for today. Musselburgh stage the only jumps fixture tomorrow, but they have called a 6.30 a.m. inspection on the day.

Racing is scheduled at both Leopardstown and Clonmel tomorrow and although officials at the former are confident, Clonmel will hold an inspection at 10 a.m. on the day.

Prospects for Monday's meetings are not looking much brighter, with Newcastle's fixture under threat from snow and frost.

Plumpton's meeting is another threatened by frost after temperatures dropped sharply last night.

Leicester, where a meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, are reasonably hopeful they might be able to beat the freeze. Catterick's meeting on the same day is in doubt, though, with parts of the course still frozen. A total of 32 meetings have been lost to the weather this season.

If racing gets the green light Artic Jack would be a popular winner in the Red Square Vodka Gold Cup. Sue Smith's eight-year-old never saw another horse as he made all to trounce leading Gold Cup hope Kingscliff at the Merseyside track on his latest start.

Kingscliff probably had legitimate excuses, but there was no denying Artic Jack was impressive in the way he jumped and galloped away from his field. The handicapper has put him up 9lb, but he is clearly going the right way now and he can make light of his big weight.

Royal Rosa gets the vote in a cracking renewal of the Red Square Vodka Prestige Novices' Hurdle. Howard Johnson's expensive recruit already jumps like an old hand and ran a cracker here behind Sh Boom last time. He is open to loads of improvement on only his fourth start over timber.

Jimmy Tennis gets the nod in the Racing Post Chase at Kempton. Venetia Williams' seven-year-old lost his way after winning the Reynoldstown Chase at Ascot in 2002 but has come back to his old self of late after dropping in the weights. He was running a big race when coming to grief five from home in the Skybet Chase at Doncaster, but he made no mistake next time at Leicester and will once again have the assistance in the saddle of the smart Sam Thomas.

Forever Phoenix will have Johnny Murtagh aboard in the New Site Coming Soon betdirect.co.uk Fillies' Handicap at Lingfield. The Robert Cowell-trained four-year-old was a ready winner at Southwell last time and the jockey booking looks significant.