Cheltenham going remains heavy, soft in places following dry night

The Cheltenham Festival will begin on heavy ground for the first time since 1982, with a dry night leaving conditions unchanged at heavy, soft in places.

Testing ground awaits the runners for the first day of the meeting, and speaking on Tuesday morning, clerk of the course Simon Claisse said: "It's been dry overnight and we are expecting a dry day, although as I say that there is a shower happening.

"We remain heavy, soft in places."

The end of the back straight, up and over the hill and the bottom of the old hill are the areas where the ground is soft, rather than heavy.

Claisse does not expect any change to underfoot conditions before the roar of the Cheltenham crowd greets the runners for the Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle, and added: "The forecast is dry so we're just counting down the hours until 1.30."

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