Ascot avoids Thursday night storms but heavy rain forecast

Ascot avoided the storms which were potentially forecast to hit the track on Thursday night, but an unsettled picture remains with showers predicted throughout Friday and overnight into Saturday.

A Met Office yellow weather warning for heavy rain has been issued for the weekend with up to 30mm forecast to fall on the course.

The two-day fixture at the Berkshire track begins on Friday afternoon and is headed on Saturday by a star-studded renewal of the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes, featuring phenomenal dual Arc heroine Enable, Prince of Wales's winner Crystal Ocean and Derby victor Anthony Van Dyck.

The going at the track on Friday morning was unchanged at good to firm, good in places, with Ascot clerk of the course Chris Stickels confirming he will wait until Friday evening before deciding on whether to further water ahead of Saturday's big race given the ever-changing forecast.

Chris Stickels: will decide on any watering on Friday eveningCredit: Alan Crowhurst

Stickels said: "We've had 1mm overnight, that's all we've had so far. Showers are forecast today, tonight and tomorrow.

"It's changeable, overnight tonight looks like the most volume between 10pm and 6am tomorrow morning.

"There are showers forecast during racing today."

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