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Lovely sunny day here in Cheltenham. Bits and pieces of rain forecast later in the week. Don't think they'll water but the horses that need very slow ground won't be getting it - not for the start of the meeting anyway.

Watering might be 'interesting' if the predicted frost and snow materialise.

Who'd be a clerk of the course eh?

There is a chance (but no guarantee) that there will be some light showers later this week which may help him keep it good to soft (the next 2-3 days are dry bright and breezy which will dry it quickly), but if they don't arrive by Friday then, unless the forecast for Sunday/Monday changes significantly (which is currently for possible snow showers) I reckon he may have to water on Saturday because if the snow showers don't arrive either then it will be on the good to firm side come next Tuesday.

Pretty fair summary Uncle.

There will be the usual outcry about the merits of watering - get on to Steeplechasing's excellent blog:  http://steeplechasing.wordpress.com/2011/03/07/poll-do-you-agree-with-festiv... - to express an opinion on this, however don't express surprise if Simon Claisse turns the taps on next weekend.

http://steeplechasing.wordpress.com/

The trouble with the forecast is that there is no guarantee of any rain - there isn't a main band of rain crossing the area - just some small areas mixed in with the cloud - they may hit the course, they may not - looks 50/50, and even then it will be very small amounts. Though the online Met Office forecast for Cheltenham says 'heavy rain' on Thursday morning but that is not what all the others say?

It will turn cold from the weekned, hence the snow flurries, so it shouldn't dry out too much from then on - so hoepfully there will be some showers or a small amount of watering at the end this week to keep it good to soft and then all shouldbe set fair.

I think they're fairly confident on rain Sat/Sun/Mon so it's unlikely he'll water, what's not known is how much rain will drop over them 3 days, could easily hose down and turn ground soft.
That said, if there's no rain this week the ground could well be good to firm come Friday !
Tough job for Claisse