Although the course remains raceable, clerk of the course Edward Arkell is slightly concerned temperatures are continuing to fall.

He said: "We could race at the moment. There is some wet, bare ground just by the winning post, but we are raceable.

"The worry is temperatures are continuing to fall, rather than going the other way.

"It got down to -0.6C overnight and everything was looking good when I arrived, but it's now down to -1.4C."

This afternoon's meeting at Doncaster is subject to a second morning inspection at 10am.

Clerk of the course Roderick Duncan called a precautionary inspection for 8am due to the threat of frost overnight, but temperatures did not dip below zero.

Temperatures are due to rise through the morning, but Duncan feels it prudent to check again later to be on the safe side.

He said: "We're going to look again at 10am, but I'm very optimistic we'll be racing.

"There is no real frost in the ground, but I want to be able to race now before I give it the go-ahead and hand on heart, I don't think I could say that now.

"We'll see where we are in a couple of hours, but I'm very hopeful."

Officials at Carlisle will stage a precautionary inspection at 8am tomorrow ahead of Sunday's scheduled meeting.

Temperatures dipped down to -3C overnight at the Cumbrian circuit, but clerk of the course Kirkland Tellwright is hopeful the fixture will go ahead.

He said: "It is purely precautionary. The forecasts we've had for the last couple of days have been correct and as long as the forecast for tonight is accurate, I think we'll be racing.

"It got down to -3C last night, but it's only due to get down to -1C tonight, so fingers crossed that is the case.

"It's just sensible for us to have a look in the morning and see where we are."