Officials have 'no concerns' at Ascot as track gears up for stellar two-day meeting

Clerk of the course Chris Stickels has 'no concerns' for Ascot's two-day meeting this weekend despite recent rain and snow. 

The going is good to soft, good in places, after just 3mm of rain overnight taking the weekly total to 14.6mm, while officials applied 10mm of water to the track on Tuesday. 

Subzero temperatures are forecast for the next two days and frost covers are being deployed, but Stickels does not envisage any issues ahead of racing, which begins on Friday.

He said: "We've had a little bit of rain and snow, and at the moment we're good to soft, good in places. I think most of the precipitation has passed and it's just going to be cold. We're expecting frost and around -2C tomorrow and on Friday, and then some patchy rain on Saturday, which may get heavier as the afternoon goes on. 

"I don't see the current going description altering hugely, and we're putting frost covers down now on the shaded areas just to give us a bit of protection from the coldest areas. I don't have any concerns about racing going ahead."

Il Est Francais (left): French ace is set to return at Ascot on SaturdayCredit: Alan Crowhurst

Saturday's racing features the Grade 2 Ladbrokes 1965 Chase (1.30) and Grade 2 Ladbrokes Ascot Hurdle (2.40), with Il Est Francais, Pic D'Orhy, Wodhooh and Potters Charm some of the big names likely to be on show. 

There will be more star power on Saturday with Haydock hosting the Grade 1 Betfair Chase (3.00), and the going at the Merseyside track is unchanged from good to soft, soft in places overnight. No issues are expected in the build up to the race.

Read this next: 

'He takes my breath away': French star Il Est Francais returns to action this Saturday - here's a look at his career so far 

'It's a showdown to savour and something has got to give' - five blockbuster battles in Ireland this weekend 

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