'That's as heavy as you'll get' - Goodwood ground now heavy after sustained morning rainfall

Going at Goodwood changed to heavy, soft in places after the first raceCredit: Alan Crowhurst

After sustained rainfall throughout the morning, the going for the final day of Glorious Goodwood was changed to heavy all over after the second race.

Oisin Orr took the opener aboard Monsieur Kodi on ground described as soft, good to soft in places but speaking on ITV after the race the jockey said: "It's hard work, it's not far off heavy ground."

The ground was then changed to heavy, soft in places before the Summer Handicap, which was won in good style by Sweet William, but afterwards Jim Crowley said: "That's as heavy as you'll get."

The ground on Saturday morning was said to be good to soft – the final race on Friday having been run on ground described as good to soft, soft in places – after the track had received just 0.4mm of rain since midnight.

That figure had risen to 3.2mm at 10am, and after a further 1.6mm the going was updated to soft, good to soft in places and clerk of the course Ed Arkell, speaking at 12pm, said: "We could've done without the rain. We'll change the going to soft, good to soft in places.

"The ground has opened up and it's getting in, but the track has taken it really well, there's a good covering of grass which is helping it a lot.

"The weather will probably be much like this, a cross between what we've got now and what we had on Wednesday. I think we've been lucky as the real heavy stuff has actually gone north of us, and they're getting it up in the midlands and in the north.

"I don't think there's a huge amount of difference across the track. The stands' rail got absolutely battered on Wednesday, it has come back a lot better than I expected it to, but obviously it has been chopped up and it will probably open up.

"Before this rain came this morning I was out with the GoingStick and it was 6.8 on the stands' rail, 6.8 in the middle, and 6.7 on the far side - it was just a point lower on the far side. It's pretty similar right the way across."

Updated at 2.15pm

Market support for Chairmanoftheboard

The big betting race of the day, the Stewards' Cup (3.35), has seen plenty of each-way support for Chairmanoftheboard, who has halved in price with the sponsors Coral.

The seven-year-old is trained by Jack Channon, who landed the Golden Mile on Friday with Johan, and has two wins to his name on soft ground, including over this course and distance.

The market is still headed by the Charlie Hills-trained Orazio, whose two starts on ground slower than good have resulted in victories.

Coral’s Lewis Knowles said: ‘’Free Wind has been one of the best-backed horses of the day in the Group Two Lillie Langtry Stakes and is now odds-on at 10-11. She is well clear of the field on ratings and has plenty of form on soft ground, so it is no surprise punters have been quick to back her in the last 24 hours.

"The Coral Stewards’ Cup is always one of the most competitive sprint handicaps of the season and, although Orazio is solid at the head of the market, we have seen plenty of each-way money for Chairmanoftheboard, who has halved in price to 16-1 (from 33-1).”

As the announcement of the going change was made, there was a surprising surge of support for the Gary Moore-trained He's A Latchio in the Coral Summer Handicap (2.25).

Having started the morning as big as 17-2, the five-year-old, who has won four of his last five Flat starts, is now a best-priced 11-2 shot despite being beaten a combined 60 lengths in his three starts on ground described as soft (44 lengths was over hurdles).

He went up 9lb for an emphatic victory in a 1m6f handicap at Sandown on good ground, but punters seem to think he can continue his hot spell.

Updated at 12.00pm

Galway passes morning inspection

Day six at the Galway festival has been given the green light after the track passed a raceday inspection on Saturday.

An inspection was scheduled at 7.30am due to a yellow weather warning and the possibility of heavy rain overnight Friday into Saturday.

Despite being hit with 28mm of rainfall, clerk of the course Lorcan Wyer deemed the track suitable to race, with the going officially described as soft (from good) on the jumps course and heavy (from yielding) on the Flat.

Galway's eight-race mixed card is due to start with a 20-runner maiden hurdle at 1.55pm.

Speaking on Saturday morning, Wyer said: "It's good news this morning as racing at Galway goes ahead. We had 28mm of rain overnight, and the going on the National Hunt course is soft; Flat is heavy.

"The forecast is generally dry for Saturday and Sunday. There is a chance of an isolated shower, but it looks like the worst of the rain has passed by now.

"We do have a completely fresh track on the inside line for the Flat races and the hurdles track will be situated out wide near the steeplechase course with fresh ground."

Updated at 9am