Going good at Cheltenham

Cheltenham clerk of the course Simon Claisse reports the ground to be on the good side as the track gears up for day one of the Festival.

Claisse has described conditions as good, good to soft in places ahead of the opening Stan James Supreme Novices’ Hurdle this afternoon.

“We had a dry night but we had thought we may have got a bit of drizzle. I have given the ground as good, good to soft in places this morning,” he told Channel 4’s The Morning Line.

“The forecast is for some sun this afternoon and temperatures of 13C or 14C.”

Today is the first of four days of high-octane action with Friday’s totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup the highlight.

The second two days of the meeting are run on the new course at Prestbury Park and Claisse is maintaining a watching brief on that track.

He added: “There may be a bit of rain Thursday night into Friday. The Gold Cup course is still good to soft, good in places so we will just see how things transpire in the next couple of days.”