'If we get that much, conditions will certainly ease' - up to 20mm of rain forecast for Cheltenham on Friday

The ground at Cheltenham could ease significantly for the November meeting, with officials anticipating that a heavy band of rain may hit the track on Friday's opening day.

The going was described as good, good to soft in places on Tuesday. Most of the course's watering was completed last week, following the unseasonably dry period which has caused quick conditions and impacted meetings throughout Britain this month.

However, rain is forecast to be on its way for Cheltenham and clerk of the course Jon Pullin is braced for as much as 20mm of rainfall on the first of the meeting's three days, which features the return of Jonbon in the Shloer Chase (2.55).

He said: "There's certainly some rain looking like it's coming. Rain will begin through the night, before a mainly dry outlook during most of the day on Wednesday and Thursday.

"However, from the early hours of Friday we've got a significant band of rain. That may amount to 20mm-plus of rain and could stay through the day, but Saturday and Sunday look much better. The key will be how much rain we get in those early hours as if we get that much, it'll certainly ease conditions."

The dry period meant that the chute used for races over two and a half miles was out of action at Cheltenham's season-opening Showcase meeting last month. However, it will return this weekend, including for the feature Paddy Power Gold Cup (2.20) on Saturday.

Pullin added: "We backed off watering the round course before last weekend, but we continued for a little bit longer on the chute because we didn't race on it at the Showcase meeting and hadn't watered it since October. We're in good shape."

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