Ground expected to be good, good to soft in places for final day

Gold Cup day will start on ground described as good, good to soft in places, and clerk of the course Simon Claisse believes that is how it will finish with forecast conditions neither drying or wet.

"We gave the ground [on Thursday] as good, good to soft in places and the feedback and times has backed that up," said Claisse, who had put between 8-10mm on the New course after racing on Wednesday.

"It's ridden slightly dead in places, as we'd expect after watering. I don't believe we'll have lost a lot of moisture in the ground throughout the day so, with the forecast remaining similar – no rain but overcast and a relatively cool 9-10C – I'll leave the ground description alone."

He added: "We open up about seven yards of fresh ground on the chase course tonight for Gold Cup day."