HAYDOCK Park officials admit they are “struggling” to get the ground fit for their scheduled card on Saturday, which features the Betfred Tommy Whittle Handicap Chase.

The racecourse's has been frozen since last Wednesday, with overnight temperatures plummeting to minus 5C and daytime highs inadequate to bring forth a thaw.

While an inspection is planned at 8am on Thursday, clerk of the course Kirkland Tellwright is not optimistic.

On Tuesday morning, he said: “Frankly, we are struggling. There is a modest thaw starting on Friday, but on all the evidence, it won’t be sufficient or in time.

“We will inspect on Thursday and are likely to call it off then. If there was any prospect of being on, we will, of course, call a further inspection.”