Windy conditions forecast but officials confident big day will go ahead

Ascot is still bracing itself for a wet and windy afternoon on Saturday but clerk of the course Chris Stickels remains confident that Qipco British Champions Day will go ahead without a hitch.

Stickels said on Thursday: “It’s not going to be very pleasant and it’s difficult to get a precise understanding what might happen as the forecasters are painting a changing and volatile picture. But the wind speeds have been downgraded a little to gusts reaching 40 miles an hour at their peak rather than 50.

“The centre of the low pressure now seems as if it will head in the direction of Northern Ireland but we will still be on the periphery of that and it’s going to be windy and wet.”

The official going remains the same with the Straight Course registering a Going Stick reading of 6.8, which translates as Good and Good to Soft in places, while the round course is Good to Soft and Good in places coming at 6.2.

Ascot will not use its inner course for Champions Day, officials confirmed on Thursday morning.

The possibility of testing ground for British racing's showpiece day meant Ascot had the back-up option of using its inner track, which is not watered in the summer, for races on the round course – the Qipco British Champions Long Distance Cup, the Qipco British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes and the Qipco Champion Stakes – on Saturday.

But with those conditions now unlikely to materialise the action will take place on the outer track as planned.

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