FREEZING temperatures and fog are playing havoc with racing fixtures, so it's pot luck as to which of today's four fixtures will actually go ahead.

Although Hereford are holding a 7.30am inspection, course officials are hopeful the action will take place and one trainer with fingers crossed is Richard Newland, responsible for Xellance (1.30).

Newland's ultra-consistent nine-year-old is effectively his own worst enemy.

Having not finished out of the first three on any of his last four outings, Xellance simply isn't getting any respite from the handicapper whatsoever.

As far as the credit column is concerned, connections have at least found a soft target for the selection, who must be in with a chance of reversing last month's defeat at the hands of General O'Keefe when the pair clash in the World Bet Exchange Handicap Chase.

The fact veteran Middleham handler, Patrick Haslam, is prepared to trail Hi Dancer (3.30) all the way down the M6 suggests he believes his three-year-old possesses live credentials in the closing Juvenile Novices' Handicap Hurdle.

Hi Dancer hardly knows how to run a bad race and his latest third-placing to River Logic in a far more valuable and competitive event at Newcastle last Saturday was yet another cracking effort.

Haslam's near neighbour, Mark Johnston, is currently on safari in South Africa, but it hasn't stopped his Kingsley House stable churning out the winners.

Niggling problems have proved the Achilles heel of the lightly-campaigned Melpomene (3.10), who finally opened her account just six weeks short of her fourth birthday when bolting clear in a Southwell maiden 32 days ago.

Melpomene holds strong claims of following up that facile win in Lingfield's Europa Print Handicap, provided she's not inconvenienced by the change of surface from fibresand to polytrack.

The draw could be the decisive factor as regards Wolverhampton's six-furlong Handicap since two of the likely market leaders, Creme Brulee and Muara, have been hit with high draws.

While that pair are having to chart a wide berth and thus cover much more ground than is ideal, Cree (5.20) could well sneak up the inner from stall two and complete a well-deserved hat-trick.

l Ayr has been voted Racecourse of the Year 2006 for Scotland and the North East by the Racegoers Club for the third year in succession.