Grand National Weather Watch

Yes, it's getting a bit worrying.

I can't remember it being this hot and dry before a National meeting.

Courtesy of theAnorak...

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/horseracing/9168248/Aintree-move-to-beat-the-heat-on-Grand-National-day.html


The spell of unseasonally warm weather may not last until April 14 when this year’s race is run - this is Britain, after all, and in all probability winter may have begun by then - but it has certainly concentrated minds.


There is no question that, just as it is for humans in the London Marathon, heat presents a much greater problem for runners than a lack of it.


Horse welfare has become such a high priority that not only has the racecourse installed 14 hose points in a dedicated state-of-the art wash-down area where the horses pull up adjacent to the Sefton Stand, it is borrowing a special misting machine for cooling over-heated horses from Greenwich, venue for this year’s Olympic three-day event, and it will also put up a tent to provide shade.


Another indisputable fact is that the softer the ground, the softer the falls tend to be and the course has also completed the installation of a pop-up irrigation system from the Melling Road to Becher’s to make it much easier for clerk of the course Andrew Tulloch to water if he deems it necessary.


Tulloch, who has a family back-ground in eventing, said on Monday: “A lot of the recommendations are intangible, like the tightening up of the qualifications, which means that there will be no six year-olds, that jockeys must have ridden 10 chase winners rather than 10 chase or hurdle winners, and that horses must have been placed over three miles or further.

“Irregular racegoers may not actually see that which is pre-race, but we’ve also done a lot of physical work on the track. The wash-down area on an enlarged sound surface is similar to Haydock’s, but much bigger.

"A misting machine to cool down horses has been used in eventing since the Atlanta Olympics when standing your horse in one was a compulsory part of the old roads and tracks section of a three-day event. It is basically large fans blowing mists of cold water at horses if it’s very hot.”

He added: “The pop-up irrigation gives us much more flexibility in a key area - the first six fences. Foinavon, through the Canal, down to Valentine’s is in a bowl and tends to be naturally softer anyway.”

The ground is currently good to soft, with good patches on the National course, and, at the moment, Tulloch’s intention is only to wash in some recently applied fertiliser.

“Our winter has been similar to previous winters and not unusually dry,” he said. “From what I can gather, there seems to have been a divide across the country which runs through Chester, with everywhere south of that line missing out on the rain, but we’ve had plenty. We’re happy where we are with it but, ideally, we want decent ground just on the easy side, so we will continue to monitor it.”

Cloudy and light rain, every day from Mon 2nd April to Tues 10th April according to long-range forecast.

I can't find any forecasts after that as yet.

It looks as though it may rain next week.

Tbf Mully it's not rained in the north west for weeks and we've had at least a week of very warm weather, cooling down now over the weekend.

They have been watering all week, Aintree looks a great sight from the Melling road. Can't wait..

Penguin Keeper, I think you are going to be correct with your opinion mate, tons of water will be put on the track as every precaution to avoid injury to horses will be paramount, especially after the events of last years race and the fatalities at Cheltenham, I reckon that whatever the weather it will be good to soft come the 14th.

no it's bloody freezing!

did the rain arrive today ?

Agree it's not proper rain as my old mum would say. I'll be able to give a guestimation of what impact it may have had on top of the watering if any when I play golf later

The rain this week if you can call it that did absolutely nothing to the ground so watering will continue I imagine.

Turftrax have the course as good, with a tiny bit of good to soft

http://maps.turftrax.co.uk/latestgoingreport.asp?course=aintree

Persistant light rain for most of the morning ...

Wouldn't mind a heavy national where you can rule out half the field :-)

http://www.turftrax.co.uk/going_maps.html

this is exactly what i was expecting gilies cross price halved since i backed @ 50 RAIN RAIN RAIN

BBC website totally contradicts this, stating organised rain or showers every day up to Friday with chance of snow in the area overnight tonight, including heavy bursts Wednesday afternoon .... makes betting harder than it already is, trying to second guess Saturday's going.

April showers to continue into the week. I would be amazed if the GN course was not soft come saturday.

Those burdened with high weights will find it hard to lumber it over these meaty fences. A dour stayer with less than 11st 2 will win.

dont get caught out, aintree is a super drain course, just on the softer side of good at worst come saturday

9-10 mm expected today then forecast dry til saturday

http://www.turftrax.co.uk/going_maps.html

Web page not found

i'll say again, word heavy will not appear,,,,

saturday morning it will say...

good to soft, soft in places on the national course

good and good to soft in places on the mildmay and hurdle courses...