by Tom O'Ryan

Britain faces the prospect of a possible blank day's racing tomorrow because of snow and frost.

Tomorrow's card at Stratford has been abandoned because of snow, and the meetings at Newbury, Carlisle and Southwell are in serious doubt.

There has been snow at Newbury and Carlisle and heavy frost at Southwell. Inspections of all three courses were being held this afternoon.

This afternoon's meetings at Haydock, Musselburgh and Leopardstown were scrapped because of snow.

Hopes of racing at Cheltenham on Saturday are already grim.

Clerk of the course Simon Claisse said today that the track is currently unraceable and an inspection of the course will be made at 11.00am tomorrow.

"We have one and a half inches of snow lying on top of five degrees of overnight frost so the course is unraceable," Claisse said. " am pessimistic."

If racing goes ahead at Newbury tomorrow, Run For Paddy can provide Lambourn trainer Mark Pitman with a deserved change of luck by winning the big race at Newbury tomorrow.

Pitman, whose stable-star Monsignor is out for the season through injury, was dealt another major blow at Kempton yesterday when his Champion Hurdle hope Ashley Park hobbled off the course after a narrow defeat by Geos in the Christmas Hurdle.

Although more will be known today about the specific nature of his injury, Ashley Park looks extremely unlikely to reappear again this season.

Success for Nap selection Run For Paddy in tomorrow's £27,500 Challow Hurdle would at least bring some Christmas cheer to the Pitman household.

Winner of three of his last four starts, the gelding has developed into a high-class novice and lost no marks at Cheltenham last time when beaten only a length by the more experienced Mister Banjo when receiving only 3lb from a horse rated 32lb his superior.

Back against novices and at level weights tomorrow, Run For Paddy can provide Pitman with a welcome change of fortune. Timmy Murphy has the mount.

In the E.T.'s Coming of Age Novices' Handicap Chase, it would be unwise to overlook the claims of Blackwater Brave.

Paul Nicholls' charge, who missed the whole of last season through injury, has won both his races this term and is clearly a useful performer.

Flaxley Wood, a faller last time out at Wetherby, is fancied to bounce back in the Mandarin Handicap Chase over three miles.

Bob Buckler's nine-year-old came to grief four from home when in third place at Wetherby in the race won by Function Dream - also the winner of Tuesday's Castleford Chase over the same course.

Having shown some solid form this season, Flaxley Wood deserves the chance to get back on top.

Finnoula's Rainbow has been running well enough to suggest that the Noel Chance-trained gelding has solid prospects in the Furlong Club Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle.

Tomorrow's Tips

Newbury

12.45 - Artic Jack

1.15 - Wahiba Sands

1.45 - Blackwater Brave

2.15 - Run For Paddy (Nap)

2.45 - Flaxley Wood

3.15 - Finnoula's Rainbow

3.45 - Chauvanist