TOMORROW'S Catterick race meeting was called off today because of frost.

It is the third Catterick meeting to be lost in the past eight days.

The programmes due to have been held at Catterick on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day were victims of the recent Arctic weather

Tomorrow's meeting was abandoned following an inspection of the course this morning.

Catterick Racecourse manager John Gundill said: "It was slightly above zero Centigrade last night but there is still frost well into the ground.

"The forecast is for a cold night, going below 0C, and a cold day tomorrow and the course is not going to be raceable in time.

"The course has been frozen for 10 days now and it is difficult to get the frost out. "It is disappointing but that's life - if it's unraceable it's unraceable."

Catterick's next scheduled meeting is a week on Saturday, which is due to be shown on Channel 4.

No inspection is planned at Newbury racecourse ahead of tomorrow's meeting there. Newbury is currently raceable.

Lynn Siddall, who trains at Colton, near Tadcaster, is making the long journey to Berkshire with Mr Christie.

The 10-year-old lines up for the Armour Handicap Hurdle and, off bottom weight, commands plenty of respect.

Siddall has kept her horses in good fettle during the recent cold snap and Mr Christie underlined his well-being with a fluent success at Haydock 12 days ago. The North Yorkshire gelding faces 21 rivals tomorrow but has every chance of coming out on top again.

My Nap vote is awarded to Supreme Charm in Newbury's feature race, the £12,000 Harwell Handicap Chase.

Kim Bailey's 10-year-old gained a deserved success over this distance at Doncaster last month, battling on well after striking the front early in the home straight.

Tomorrow's expected good ground should be in his favour and it would not surprise me to see Supreme Charm follow up.

Frosty Canyon gets my vote in the Grandstand Novices' Chase. Paul Wrebber's nine-year-old has taken well to fences this season and I expect him to show a clean pair of heels to his six rivals.

Coral Island has been in cracking form this season and Robert Stronge's gelding has excellent prospects of gaining his third win from four starts by landing the TFM Cyntergy Handicap Chase.

At Lingfield's all-weather Flat meeting, make a note of recent course and distance winner Hefin in division two of the Littlewoods Bet Direct Handicap.

Tomorrow's Tips:

Newbury

1.30 Riyadh

2.00 Frosty Canyon

2.30 Bow Strada

3.00 Supreme Charm (Nap)

3.30 Coral Island

4.00 Mr Christie

Lingfield

12.15 Bradrinath

12.45 Mickley

1.15 Absolute Utopia

1.45 Mr Gisby

2.15 Waterford Spirit

2.45 Madrasee

3.15 Ron's Pet

3.45 Hefin

Updated: 14:14 Tuesday, January 08, 2002