Festival could start on soft ground

Cheltenham clerk of the course Simon Claisse has warned that the 2009 Festival could get underway on soft ground should the forecast rain arrive ahead of Tuesday’s curtain-raiser.

With blustery and wintry showers currently invading the Prestbury Park circuit, conditions are described as good to soft, good in places.

However, with a weather front due to move through on Monday night officials are expecting the going to ease, before drier and brighter weather takes hold at the end of the week for the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup.

“We are experiencing a showery day today and it will be the same again tomorrow, which will give us four or five millimetres of rain,” said Claisse.

“Monday night into Tuesday a rain band will move through giving us five or six millimetres, so overall we are looking at up to 10 millimetres before racing starts on Tuesday.

“If we get five or six millimetres on Tuesday morning then that could swing the ground round to soft.”

Looking longer term, he added: “Wednesday will be showery but there won’t be a lot of rain in the showers.

“Thursday will be getting warmer with a few showers and then it will be dry on Friday with temperatures around 13 degrees.”

Both Nicky Henderson and Alan King walked the course on Sunday morning and were delighted with the condition of the turf.

Claisse also played down any fears of reported strong winds for Monday night, saying: “The met office website isn’t forecasting any high winds for Cheltenham tomorrow night, and the worst we have forecast is gusts of 35mph today.”

The second day of last year’s meeting was lost after the course was battered by a storm, after which temporary structures on the site have been strengthened to withstand winds of 50mph.