Cheltenham continues to dry after sunny Sunday

A SUNNY, breezy Sunday continued the drying of Cheltenham and led clerk of the course Simon Claisse to admit that the Festival could open on ground slightly quicker than the latest description of good to soft, good in places.

With the weather set to stay dry until at least Wednesday and watering on the Old Course ruled out, Cheltenham will ride as nature intended on Tuesday.

Claisse said: "At this time of year, the top layer dries out in the breeze, but there's plenty of moisture in the ground. It's slowly drying out and I wouldn't rule out that at some point on Tuesday we might well end up good, good to soft in places.

"I can't predict when, though, as I can't second guess the rate at which it dries out as that depends on a combination of the sun, the strength of the wind and the direction of the wind."

With Cheltenham's own forecast predicting between 2.5mm and 3.5mm of rain on Thursday and up to 3mm on Friday, Claisse has delayed a decision on watering of the New Course, used on Thursday and Friday, until Monday at the earliest.

After walking Cheltenham on Sunday, trainer Alan King said: "There's plenty of moisture in it and I think it will ride a bit dead."

Captain Cee Bee's trainer Edward Harty added: "At the minute, it's on the soft side, but if the prevailing weather stays as it is now, I'd say it will be riding good on Tuesday."

Read more in Monday's Racing Post - buy the online newspaper from 9am

GET AN ADVANTAGE AT CHELTENHAM: For the benefits of Members' Club Ultimate during festival week, buy your 7-day pass NOW