Early morning inspection for Craigie course

TODAY'S National Hunt meeting at Ayr hinges on a morning inspection at 6.45am. Conditions were yesterday described as good, and good to firm in places, with the track partly frozen.

Light sleet and rain also fell at the Craigie course and much will depend on whether the overnight temperature has managed to stay above freezing.

After a week of deteriorating weather conditions, tomorrow's meeting at Sandown is also subject to a 3.30pm inspection today.

There are no such problems in the sun-kissed United Arab Emirates, of course, where trainer Saeed bin Suroor is confident of a bold show from Aspectoflove in the Group 3 Balanchine Stakes at Meydan today.

The contest over nine furlongs has attracted a high-class field of eight, and Aspectoflove finished in front of four of those rivals when a close second to Soneva three weeks ago.

"We were very pleased with that first run and she has been working well since. She should run a big race," said bin Suroor of the Godolphin-owned four-year-old, who will be the mount of Frankie Dettori.