Short downpour will not alter going says clerk of the course Simon Claisse

A short downpour at noon on Friday had racegoers running for cover, but Cheltenham clerk of the course Simon Claisse does not think it will have materially altered the ground.

The surface remains good to soft and Claisse thinks it will now stay that way for the final day of the festival.

Claisse, who altered the going from good to soft, soft in places, on Friday morning, had predicted strong winds could dry the ground up further. But on Friday lunchtime he felt that was no longer the case.

"It was probably a millimetre or so, it was less than it felt," said Claisse after 20 minutes of rain which was heavy at times.

Asked if it would affect the ground, he added: "I think it will keep the ground at good to soft. I've been saying through the morning if the wind kept blowing we might end up with good in places - but that will probably just hold it where it is now."