The Navan authorities remain "quietly optimistic" about racing going ahead tomorrow, despite there being a 10am cautionary inspection this morning.

A covering of snow refused to thaw out yesterday as quickly as expected and with the cold snap forecast to continue for the weekend, an early inspection has been called.

"The wind-chill factor has meant the snow has not thawed as quickly as we would have liked. We would not have been able to race today," said Navan manager Richard Lyttle.

"A lot will depend on what happens overnight, but we are still quietly optimistic about going ahead."

There was better news from the two other Irish racecourses hoping to race this weekend.

Despite a light covering of snow in the morning Gowran Park could have raced yesterday and only a serious downturn in the weather is likely to stop racing going ahead there today.

"We are being told that frost shouldn't be a problem. It's the wind chill that is really making things cold here. We have a good cover of grass and we're very hopeful," said the track manager Jane Williams yesterday.

No snow hit Wexford racecourse yesterday and none is expected over the weekend.

"The winds are forecast to be fairly strong so frost shouldn't be a problem. The fact we're adjacent to the sea should also help so I'm optimistic everything will go according to plan," said Wexford's manager Michael Murphy.

Three-time Kentucky Derby-winning jockey Gary Stevens (42), a Hall of Fame rider with more than 5,000 victories, announced his retirement from racing yesterday.

"There is a piece of my heart that would love to continue riding, but my body can't take it anymore," said Stevens. "The injuries I have sustained over the years have caught up with me."

Besides his Kentucky Derby wins, Stevens has two Preakness and three Belmont Stakes wins.