Cheltenham going: ground quickens and watering begins on the New course

Officials at Cheltenham remain hopeful that next week's festival will take place on predominantly good to soft ground despite having begun watering on the New course on Friday.

The going was updated to good, good to soft in places on both the Old and New course following a dry week and while up to 5mm rain could fall before the weekend, the decision to commence watering on the New course – which stages the third and fourth days of the festival – was made on Friday morning.

Clerk of the course Jon Pullin said: "After another dry day with a drying breeze yesterday we changed it to good, good to soft in places, and there isn't a lot of good to soft left. We're forecast up to 5mm today and it's currently raining early Friday afternoon.

"We've started watering on the New course given the dry forecast we're looking at. We might get 1-2mm more at the weekend, but after that it's dry, with temperatures on Tuesday and Wednesday getting up to around 15-16C."

A crucial decision on whether to also begin watering on the Old course ahead of Tuesday will be made on Saturday, which has given Pullin another headache ahead of the first festival he will be clerk of the course at Prestbury Park for.

He added: "We've held off on the Old course so we can assess what rainfall we do get today and the impact that has. We'll make a decision tomorrow if we need to do anything with it watering-wise, and we're certainly looking to try and get to a point where we can start on good to soft on Tuesday.

"It'll certainly be fantastic for racegoers being dry and warm, as well as bright and sunny, but it gives us a challenge in the build-up."

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