Clonmel forced to cancel fixture due to icy blast

Clonmel's fixture this Thursday has been cancelled as the cold snap across the country continues to disrupt the sporting calendar.

Seven races were scheduled to take place at the Tipperary venue, however the meeting will not go ahead as planned following an inspection on Monday morning.

The track, blanketed with snow, was found to be unfit for racing.

Lorcan Wyer, Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board clerk of the course, said: "Following adverse weather over the weekend, unfortunately the track at Clonmel is unfit for racing at present due to a covering of snow.

"The current weather forecast is for temperatures to remain very low and dropping as low as minus seven degrees in the Clonmel area this week.

"Due to the current conditions and the forecast for the coming days, the fixture scheduled for Thursday 9 January has been cancelled.

"The team at Clonmel are working with Horse Racing Ireland regarding a new date for this meeting."

Monday's meeting at Ludlow in England has also been called off due to a waterlogged track.

The seven-race National Hunt card was subject to a 7am inspection after two inches of snow fell at the course on Sunday.

Meanwhile Sunday's scheduled All-Ireland semi-finals between Cuala and Coolera/Strandhill at Kingspan Breffni and Errigal Ciaran and Dr Crokes at Laois Hire O'Moore Park were postponed following pitch inspections.

Both games will be played this Saturday.