'Repairs on the broken drain have been carried out' - Cheltenham fixes hole found on Trials day as preparations continue for festival

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Cheltenham clerk of the course Jon Pullin has revealed that the collapsed drain which brought late drama to proceedings on Trials day, with the final race nearly abandoned, has been repaired ahead of the biggest four days in the jump racing calendar.

A picture taken from Cleeve Hill by Racing Post photographer Edward Whitaker on Wednesday showed white fleecing covering the area of the track where the repair work has been carried out. The purpose of the fleece is to promote grass growth following the remedial work.

Officials inspect the large hole on the track on Trials day

It has been 19 days since the large hole, which was big enough for a member of the groundstaff to fit his entire arm in, was discovered on the home straight after the completion of the Grade 2 Cleeve Hurdle, in which 5-2 shot Ma Shantou got the better of even-money favourite Impose Toi.