Quick ground predicted for Ascot

Ascot clerk of the course Chris Stickels expects good to firm ground as the five-day Royal meeting gets underway tomorrow.

Part of the £200m (€290m) redevelopment of the course included relaying the straight track but after only one meeting since its re-opening, the turf is in top condition.

However, the recent dry spell has forced Stickels to turn on the taps to ensure the ground does not become too fast.

“The going will be good to firm and we are watering to maintain that,” Stickels told At The Races.

“It’s good to firm all the way round.

“At the last meeting the ground was a touch softer on the round course and we do need to put more water on the straight course than we do on the round. For tomorrow it will be good to firm all round – the course looks fantastic at the moment.

“It will be predominately dry on Tuesday but we could get a little bit of rain on Tuesday night, maybe three or four millimetres.

“We may get a little bit on Wednesday but then it should be dry for the rest of the week.”