Heavy shower hits Sandown despite forecast
A HEAVY SHOWER fell at Sandown two hours before the start of racing on Coral-Eclipse day and temperatures began to drop - events completely at odds with the weather forecast earlier in the day.
Around 12.30pm, a sharp and heavy shower engulfed the course, bringing a mist with it.
However, by 1pm, the rain had ceased and the temperature was again on the rise. Should the rain stay away it is unlikely the going will be affected.
Words had come from Ascot that rain was on the way around 30 minutes before it arrived at Sandown, where the goinghas been described as good, good to firm in places following a dry night on Friday.
Temperatures had been predicted to soar to 24 degrees celsius on Saturday.
Heavy rain hit the course on Thursday night and eased the ground to good, but clerk of the course Andrew Cooper had appeared confident that the forecast showers for Friday night would not be enough to soften it more even if they materialised.
"The course took Thursday's rain very welland the ground today is lovely Flat racing ground," Cooper said on Saturday morning.
Connections of Eclipse favourite Sea The Stars feel he is better on good to firm ground and he missed the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby due to conerns about the going.
The John Oxx-trained son of Cape Cross was getting acquainted with the course on Saturday morning.
"Sea The Stars has just been having a quiet walk around the parade ring and he's actually been taking a look at the winners' enclosure to get himself familiarised with the place for later on," Cooper added.
Bidding to become the first horse since Nashwan to complete the Derby-Eclipse double, Sea The Stars remain's a solid 8-13 favourite, with third-favourite Rip Van Winkle drifting out to as big as 7-1 (from 9-2) on the early exchanges.
