Water set to be applied to ease going for Thursday's action

Racing on the third day of the Cheltenham Festival will take place on freshly watered ground as the current dry spell is set to continue.

The Thursday action switches to the New course, which is a shade quicker than the Old course, as a result of that track's having to be watered for a longish period last autumn.

"The New course will be watered after racing to maintain the current going, which is good, good to soft in places," clerk of the course Simon Claisse said on Wednesday afternoon.

"The forecast is for it to be dry tomorrow but significantly cooler, with temperatures in single figures. Light rain is possible late on Friday."

Jockeys in action on Wednesday reckoned the Old course, which was officially good to soft, good in places, was riding marginally quicker than on the opening day.

Thursday's Cheltenham card