Cheltenham: no more watering before the start of racing

  PICTURE: Edward Whitaker/racingpostpix.com  

Simon Claisse dismisses watering as rain looms

CHELTENHAM clerk of the course Simon Claisse has definitively ruled out any further watering in advance of the start of racing on Tuesday.

Speaking on Sunday, Claisse revealed that an inconclusive forecast for rain later in the week was making a decision on watering the New Course, used on Thursday and Friday, a difficult one.

However, the latest indications given to Claisse suggest that rain on those two days could be significant, a verdict backed up by Met Office predictions for "heavy and persistent" precipitation for the final two days of the Festival.

Speaking on Monday morning, Claisse - who had already decided not to water the Old Course, in action on Tuesday and Wednesday - said: "I made clear on Sunday that if the signals for rain strengthened, I would not water the New Course on Monday, and the signals have strengthened.

"I would be committed to the funny farm if I watered now given those strengthening signals, so I'm not going to water.

"However, I have said all along that, if necessary, we can water later in the week. I would also not rule out changing the going description from good to soft, good in places to good, good to soft in places, should the need arise."

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