Leopardstown authorities admit they are "concerned" about prospects for racing as they prepare for a 7.00 track inspection this morning to see if this afternoon's meeting can go ahead.

A horrific weather forecast includes snow, minus four degree frost, or even both, and initial contingency plans were being made yesterday to run the most valuable races on later dates.

"We will be keeping our options open but we should know more in the morning when we will know more about the long-range forecast," said the Irish Horseracing Authority spokesman Tony Corcoran.

He added: "If racing is disrupted, at the very least we will try and salvage the good races. There are four black type races and some good conditions races to be run over the next couple of days."

They could include today's £100,000 feature, the Ericsson Chase, and tomorrow's AIB Festival Hurdle where Istabraq is scheduled to make his comeback.

"Snow showers are forecast and possible frost down to minus four degrees. If it does snow here, it won't be as cold, but we are concerned," said Leopardstown's racing manager Tom Burke.

The omens are hopeful, however, as Leopardstown did survive a 7.00 a.m. inspection yesterday.

In Britain, the cold weather continues to threaten the programme over the next few days. Today's card at Musselburgh has already fallen victim to frozen ground and inspections are planned at the day's two other turf meetings at Haydock and Taunton. Three of tomorrow's four meetings are also in jeopardy.

Officials at Taunton are full of hope that today's jumps meeting will beat the cold snap. But a bad forecast has led them to call a precautionary inspection for 8.00 a.m.

Clerk of the course Michael Trickey said yesterday: "We had no problems yesterday and none again today. But with a forecast for rain, snow or three degrees of frost we'd be mugs not to have a precautionary inspection tomorrow morning. We have avoided the bad weather so far so we are hopeful."

Today's other meeting in Britain is on the all-weather at Lingfield.

Inspections are planned for Carlisle, Southwell and Stratford tomorrow with Newbury the only course reporting no problems at present.

Prospects for Carlisle's meeting tomorrow look bleak after three nights of frost have left the ground frozen.

Officials will inspect the track at 9.00 a.m. today and clerk of the course Johnnie Fenwicke-Clennell said: "It's like the M6 out there. We have had three nights of severe frost, it got down to 6C last night and was 4C the night before. There is no let-up forecast and I'm not hopeful."

There is also a precautionary inspection at noon for tomorrow's jumps meeting at Southwell. Clerk of the course Michael Prosser said: "It went down to 3 C last night but we could have raced today.

"But we are due to have a similar - if not worse - frost tonight so we will have a precautionary inspection at midday tomorrow."

Stratford remains subject to an 8.00 a.m. inspection due to heavy ground rather then frost. A course spokesman said: "We are hopeful that racing will go ahead but it will be a close call."

Newbury spokesman Richard Osgood reported no problems at present for tomorrow where the feature race is the Grade One Challow Hurdle. However, snow was expected last night.