TOMORROW'S National Hunt racing could well be hit hard by the Arctic weather sweeping Britain.

There will be early morning inspections at Kempton (7am), Haydock (7.30am) and Warwick (7.30am) and there was an inspection scheduled at Chepstow this afternoon.

Today's jumps cards at Kempton and Warwick were called off this morning because of severe frost.

There hasn't been any snow at Kempton and only a light dusting of anow at Warwick, but the outlook is not hopeful.

The most optimistic chance of turf racing is at Haydock, whose 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 minus two, so if it's the same tomorrow we'll be fine.

"The inspection is because of the forecast frost tonight. We are forecast anything between minus two and minus five. Minus two we'll race, minus four we might as well pack up and go home."

There are two or three inches of snow on the Chepstow course.

The only racing to survive this afternoon was on the all-weather Flat track at Wolverhampton.

No problems are reported for tomorrow's Flat meeting on Lingfield's all-weather track.

Musselburgh have called a 6.30am inspection on Sunday ahead of their meeting that afternoon.

In the hope that Haydock receives the green light, Bear On Board can bolster his prospects for the Martell Grand National by winning the £120,000 Red Square Vodka Gold Cup Chase.

Alan King's gelding has rattled-off a hat-trick of wins this season, getting off the mark at Haydock in November, before following-up at Bangor and Cheltenham.

A horse proven at up to four miles, this half-mile shorter trip should pose no real problems for this out-and-out stayer, who is progressing with every race.

Artic Jack, who has outstanding form on this course this season, looks to have it all to do under top-weight, while it is asking a lot of Tyneandthyneagain to score again after winning the Eider Chase over four miles only last Saturday.

Joe Blake, a former top-notch hunter chaser, makes more appeal from the foot of the handicap, along with Jonjo O'Neill's talented World Wide Web, but Bear On Board gets my vote to extend his winning sequence to four.

Sheriff Hutton trainer Tim Walford is hoping to see Pass Me By come out on top in the Red Square Vodka 'Fixed Brush' Novices' Hurdle Final.

Twice a winner on the course this season, Pass Me By is developing into a very useful performer and although he has plenty to do at the weights in this handicap, he promises to make a bold bid. Robert Walford, the trainer's son, takes the mount, as usual.

On the Polytrack at Lingfield, tomorrow's safest bet for racing going ahead, Northside Lodge is napped to clinch the £20,000 Littewoods Bet Direct Handicap.

Runner-up in his first two starts this season, and denied a clear passage on his latest outing, Peter Harris's six-year-old is a past winner over this course and distance.

Saturday's tips:

Haydock (7.30am inspection)

1.25 Armaturk, 1.55 Royal Rosa, 2.25 Bear On Board, 3.00 Claymore, 3.35 Benrajah, 4.05 Pass Me By, 4.40 Saxon Mist.

Lingfield

1.30 Polish Emperor, 2.00 Bahiano, 2.35 French Horn, 3.10 Northside Lodge (Nap), 3.40 Amwell Brave, 4.15 Forever Phoenix, 4.50 Alafzar, 5.20 Dolzago.

Chepstow (inspection this afternoon)

TV races: 1.10 Gola Supreme, 1.40 Silver Birch, 2.10 Breknen Le Noir.

Tomorrow's other meetings are at Kempton (7am inspection) and Warwick (7.30am inspection).

Updated: 12:03 Friday, February 27, 2004