PROSPECTS of a resumption of jump racing before the weekend remain remote as the cold spell continues to grip the country.

Plumpton gave enthusiasts brief respite on Sunday but there was no racing over obstacles yesterday.

Today and tomorrow are blank days, except for the allweather fixtures, while there is little hope for Thursday and Friday as well.

Saturday’s meeting at Ffos Las appears to hold the best chance of beating the freeze.

The first full week of the New Year got off to an icy start with no National Hunt fare yesterday while today’s fixture at Leicester has been lost, joining Taunton which was abandoned on Sunday.

Hexham called time on tomorrow’s meeting after an inspection was brought forward.

The course has had a covering of snow for nearly two weeks and clerk of the course James Armstrong said: ‘‘Temperatures have struggled to get above freezing and it was one of the easiest decisions I’ve had to make.”