Newmarket's new normal: dry spell means no turf gallops - it's all-weather only

It was the new normal for Newmarket trainers on Monday morning when they were unable to access 50 miles of turf gallops.

As the town sweltered during the driest July on record, the last bastion of turf action was the watered gallop on Racecourse Side, which closed a week ago to prioritise watering of the July course and Rowley Mile racecourses, leaving the 14 miles of all-weather facilities to take the strain.

It was 25C at 10am on Monday on Warren Hill where it could rise to 32C by the weekend. It meant trainers were preparing for another round of adapting to conditions, with early pull-outs to finish before the thermometer rose, although not to last month's extent when it reached a record 40C on July 18 and 19.