Simon Claisse intends to put between 3-5mm of water on the course
PICTURE: Edward Whitaker/racingpostpix.comCheltenham prepares to water for Thursday
GROUNDSTAFF at Cheltenhamwere set to water the New course on Wednesday night in a bid to prevent the ground from drying out too quickly for the last two days of the festival
The first rain of the week is expected to fall on Thursday, but the amount forecast is not enough to deter clerk of the course Simon Claisse from watering selective parts of the course, which is good, good to soft in places.
"No rain is forecast until mid-afternoon tomorrow and on that basis we will be watering the New course selectively to maintain good ground, putting on between three and five millimetres tonight," Claisse said on Wednesday afternoon.
"It will mostly go on down the hill, on the home straight and on the turn away from the stands - that is the quickest part of the course. Down the straight it is still hanging on to good to soft.
"We are forecast three to four millimetres of rain during the afternoon tomorrow, probably starting about 2.30pm. It is forecast to be dry for us on Friday though there is rain coming but we are expecting it after racing."
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