KELSO desperately need temperatures to rise, but if their prayers are answered and the Borders' National goes ahead, then a topical tip like Snowy (3.55) might not be too wide of the mark in the four-mile lung-buster.

Once a potent force in the north, Alistair Charlton hasn't too had much to shout about in recent seasons, however, that might all change if Snowy nets the first prize for the valuable Ashleybank Investments sponsored thriller.

One gets the feeling the canny veteran trainer, based at the village of Stocksfield in Northumberland, has kept his powder dry with Snowy since the grey powered to a bloodless seven length success at Musselburgh in December.

Not wanting to expose the lightly campaigned eight-year-old to any extra weight the handicapper might care to give him, Charlton has cleverly kept his charge under wraps waiting for today's substantial purse.

From a punting point of view it's necessary to appreciate the gelding will be entering unknown territory, distance-wise, during the stamina-sapping last half-mile, nonetheless previous form suggests he'll not wilt for pressure.

As far as further positives are concerned the booking of Graham Lee is an integral part of the trainers game-plan, which combined with the fact the selection is a past course winner, provide sound reasons to pursue an each-way betting policy.

Newbury are hoping their innovative course cover will allow them to beat the freeze and stage today's Vodafone Gold Cup.

Officials shrouded the entire track in a fleece blanket earlier in the week and the cover served its purpose as yesterday's meeting went ahead without a hitch, despite an overnight frost.

However, with temperatures forecast to drop to minus four, clerk of the course Richard Osgood will hold a precautionary inspection at 7.30am.

He explained: ''We will just check the ground in the morning.

''The covers will do the job but we just felt with the ground being opened up having raced today, it was best to check.

''We are forecast a minus four and the cover is designed for that kind of temperature so hopefully we will be OK.''

Kelso and Haydock will also hold early inspections as they continue to battle against the elements. Officials at both tracks are concerned by the threat of frost as temperatures are expected to fall below freezing again.

Kelso's head groundsman Brian Meikle said: ''We are forecast temperatures of minus four overnight and by 8.30am we should know how things stand.''

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