Cheltenham confident of beating the cold snap
National Hunt racing has been hit hard by the weather during the last week but Prestbury Park officials are already taking evasive action.
Temperatures are forecast to dip to minus 8C on Sunday night, but Claisse hopes the application of the covers will save the turf ahead of racing next Friday and Saturday.
“On the basis of our forecast and the covers being down I’m thoroughly optimistic for the weekend ahead,” said Claisse.
“It got down to minus 4C overnight which delayed the deployment of the covers - we had to push it back from 10am to 11.30am and we’ve brought in an extra two dozen people to get the job done by the time the weather starts to go off again at about 4pm.
“The beneficial thing from our point of view is that our soil temperature is still above 4C, whereas in January when we deployed the covers before it’s only been some where between 2C-3C.
“Looking at the forecast for the week the worst frost is tonight (Sunday) which is at minus 8C on the ground and then it’s not so bad.
“Mid week, it’s due to be minus 4C, with daytime temperatures of 1C-2C degrees, possibly getting a little bit warmer by the end of the week,” Claisse told www.sportinglife.com
Nigel Twiston-Davis has more reason than most to hope that Cheltenham defeats the big freeze.
The Naunton handler is poised to unleash Little Josh in the Vote AP Gold Cup on Saturday.
The tough eight-year-old is ante-post favourite for the Grade Three handicap chase after winning the Paddy Power Gold Cup last month.
“He’s in great form and we haven’t missed a day’s work with him,” said Twiston-Davies.
“We’re ready, as long as the track’s ready – but I’m a little bit worried about the forecast.”
