Cheltenham Festival set to open on good to soft ground

Racing on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival could start on good to soft going as the ground continues to dry out and with hardly any rain forecast over the next few days.

Clerk of the course Simon Claisse described the going as good to soft, soft in placesyesterday afternoon - but would not be surprised if conditions had dried out more come first race time today.

“We are good to soft, soft in places. You wouldn’t have thought it after over an inch of rain last Tuesday night which left some of the course under water,” Claisse said.