The Grade One contest Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot was saved from getting abandoned due to snow with the British Horseracing Authority officials quickly shifting its venue to Newbury.

The race will be part of a bumper eight race card scheduled for December 29th with a total prize of 70,000 pounds. All the 11 horses booked at the five day confirmation stage will now of course be moved to Newbury for the race.

Any new trainers interested in running at the race should do so at the 48 hour declaration stage scheduled on December 27th. With the Long Walk addition, there will now be two Grade One contests at Newbury, the other being the Heros Charity Challow Novices’ Hurdle Race.

There have also been problems at Carlisle, where I have also heard that since the Cumbria track is about 70% frozen because of temperatures plummeting to minus four degrees, Carlisle officials have now scheduled an inspection at 2.30 pm, prior to Sunday’s National Hunt fixture.

This is being done as precautionary measure as the forecast has been predicted for similar conditions for Friday night though there is a warmer forecast for Wednesday, although if its anything like it is here as I look out of my window, I think its touch and go as to whether it will go ahead.