Ascot gets the all clear

Racing: This afternoon's meeting at Ascot goes ahead after the track passed a 7.30am inspection.

Despite staff deploying ground covers earlier in the week, parts of the course remained frozen yesterday to put the card in jeopardy.

However, clerk of the course Chris Stickels was pleased to confirm he had given racing the go-ahead.

"It's good news here as we've passed the inspection and racing goes ahead," he said. "We have good ground with good to firm in the home straight."

© 2007 The Irish Times