Britain's freezing weather looks set to take its toll on important jumps races this weekend, affecting the preparations of several stars heading to the Cheltenham Festival in March.

Frost has been posing a problem after the prolonged wet spell and officials at Ascot, Haydock and Taunton are battling to keep the show going.

Ascot is scheduled to host the Grade One Victor Chandler Chase on Saturday, featuring Queen Mother Champion Chase favourite Sprinter Sacre, but there is the prospect of two to five centimetres of snow on Friday coupled with freezing overnight temperatures.

"We were disappointed to see snow come into the equation again. We remain hopeful, but we've got to consider that racing has got to be under a bit of a threat for that forecast," clerk of the course Chris Stickels said.

"We don't want to take the covers off too soon because temperatures will remain below freezing, about minus 3C on Thursday night and Friday night.

"They will remain on for the moment and we will review the situation.

"I think we will end up leaving them down in case the snow doesn't come."

The Peter Marsh Chase is the highlight at Haydock where frost is the big problem.

Officials at Taunton do not know what to expect, but remain hopeful racing will go ahead.

"We don't know whether we are going to be frozen off, snowed off, or waterlogged off as they are now saying this band of snow that we are on the very edge of could turn to rain," clerk of the course Michael Trickey said.

"At the moment we have been raceable and, much to our surprise and delight, we are still hanging in there."