Cheltenham tribute to Arkle
Of the display, for which an important contributor is former rails bookmaker Stephen Little, Cheltenham’s managing director Edward Gillespie said: “It will be a special, evocative tribute to Arkle and it couldn’t be better timed.
“The last occasion so much money was spent on improving the course happened in the early 60s when the track was widened and it heralded a spectacular era of the legendary Arkle and Mill House.
“This year, not only have we taken things forward in a similar way, but we have the prospect of last year’s four major champions returning to defend their crowns as favourites.”
Meanwhile, Cheltenham’s clerk of the course Simon Claisse has indicated that further watering is likely ahead of the Festival.
Claisse suspended his watering programme yesterday in the knowledge that the period up to the weekend will remain cold and dry.
Stressing that his team are working towards good or good to soft going for the start of the meeting this day week, he said: “The weather is playing true to form. It looks like remaining dry this week with cold nights and the possibility of snow on Thursday or Friday.
“It remains our aim to have good or easier going for the Festival, but we are taking a pull with the watering.
“The watering has changed the going from good to firm, good in places, to good.
“My suspicion is that we will be turning the taps on again at the end of the week and adding 12mm as there is no significant rainfall on the horizon.”
The Old Course will be used for the first two days of the Festival, while races switch to the New Course on Gold Cup day.
