Newmarket to start on good to soft ground with temperatures set to soar

Newmarket’s three-day Craven meeting looks set to start on good to soft ground on Tuesday with a drying week in store as racing returns to Flat racing’s headquarters.

The going was officially good to soft, soft in places on Monday but, with temperatures likely to soar this week, that will only get quicker as the meeting progresses.

“The track will definitely improve from day to day,” said clerk of the course Michael Prosser on Monday. “The forecast is very good and dry for the duration of the meeting, with highs of 16C on Tuesday, 19C on Wednesday and by Thursday we could be 23C.

“I think we’ll be good to soft right the way through by tomorrow and then further improvement into Wednesday and Thursday, so we’re in a good place.”

Altyn Orda, a general 20-1 shot for the Qipco 1,000 Guineas on May 6, has been installed as 3-1 favourite for Wednesday’s Group 3 Lanwades Stud Nell Gwyn Stakes.

Winner of the Oh So Sharp Stakes over the same course and distance last season, she faces 11 rivals, including Lowther winner Threading and fellow 1,000 Guineas entry Soliloquy.

The bet365 Earl of Sefton Stakes on the same card features a field of nine, with globetrotter Deauville heading the market as he has his first start in Britain or Ireland since finishing runner-up at Leopardstown in July.

His three runs since have been at the highest level in the United States, Canada and Hong Kong.

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