Cheltenham Festival
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The current going at Cheltenham is 'good, good-to-firm in places', despite them watering last week. The weather forecasts suggest barely any rain between now and the start of the meeting, so even with watering Simon Claisse will do well just to maintain it where it is, espeically with the track draining so well.
We all know that they aim for 'good-to-soft' in order to make it safer and appease the animal rights lobby, and the word 'firm' in the description will be seen as a major 'faux-pas' but given the extraordinary dry conditions this last year it may be beyond them. Even last year the going was 'good' on the first day and they hadn't had such a long period of dry weather.
Last year 3 weeks before the meeting the going was 'soft, good-to-soft in places' so a decent position for them to be in, and then there was no rain upto the festival so he watered in the 7-10 days before the start. Even the day before it was 'good-to-soft, good in places' yet on the first day it had dried up to 'good, good-to-soft in places'. So the watering didn't soften the ground, it just stopped it drying out quite so quickly. So with his start point this year being virtually 'good-to-firm' is there anything he can do to prevent fast ground?
There is a video interview with Simon Claisse here where he dosen't try to claim otherwise:
http://www.skysports.com/video/inline/0,26691,12602_7538568,00.html
Obviously they will do everything they can to stop the word firm appearing, but if the weather forecasts are correct (and they may not be of course) I don't see anyway he can possibly have the word soft in the description, and with the turftrax maps meaning he can't just lie about what the ground is (2007
), maybe, just maybe, he will have no option but to call it 'good-to-firm, good in places', though I expect 'good', or 'good, good to firm' in places will be the call.
Good ground is 7/2 with PP and Good-To-Firm is 40/1 for anyone interested
We all know that they aim for 'good-to-soft' in order to make it safer and appease the animal rights lobby, and the word 'firm' in the description will be seen as a major 'faux-pas' but given the extraordinary dry conditions this last year it may be beyond them. Even last year the going was 'good' on the first day and they hadn't had such a long period of dry weather.
Last year 3 weeks before the meeting the going was 'soft, good-to-soft in places' so a decent position for them to be in, and then there was no rain upto the festival so he watered in the 7-10 days before the start. Even the day before it was 'good-to-soft, good in places' yet on the first day it had dried up to 'good, good-to-soft in places'. So the watering didn't soften the ground, it just stopped it drying out quite so quickly. So with his start point this year being virtually 'good-to-firm' is there anything he can do to prevent fast ground?
There is a video interview with Simon Claisse here where he dosen't try to claim otherwise:
http://www.skysports.com/video/inline/0,26691,12602_7538568,00.html
Obviously they will do everything they can to stop the word firm appearing, but if the weather forecasts are correct (and they may not be of course) I don't see anyway he can possibly have the word soft in the description, and with the turftrax maps meaning he can't just lie about what the ground is (2007
), maybe, just maybe, he will have no option but to call it 'good-to-firm, good in places', though I expect 'good', or 'good, good to firm' in places will be the call.Good ground is 7/2 with PP and Good-To-Firm is 40/1 for anyone interested
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Will water the sh1t outa it to be g/s on the tiesday anyway!
Didn't manage it last year from a much softer starting point?
the word soft will be used 1st day of the festival guaranteed...
The cross country course which they can't water seems very likley to be GtF.
They will do everything humanly possible to avoid any firm in the going (description) as it will probably lead to mass withdrawals. It's too early to panic though. Any weather forecast beond 5 days is virtually meaningless.
They will do everything humanly possible to avoid any firm in the going (description) as it will probably lead to mass withdrawals. It's too early to panic though. Any weather forecast beond 5 days is virtually meaningless.
Given the incredible forecast for the next week the ground staff are going to have a mighty difficult job and the chances of "soft" anywhere in the going for Tuesday look unlikely. Still don't think there will be firm in it either though.
good to soft good in places, by the 3rd race it will be good ground lol
If you watch the video he says that despite the watering that took place last week, the going, if the meeting were starting this week, would still be the same as it was before the watering started.
Watering to maintain the going is one thing, watering to change it (especially from 'good-to-firm', to 'good-to-soft') is quite another, and runs the risk of very false, patchy ground which may be more harmful than natural fast going.
Watering to maintain the going is one thing, watering to change it (especially from 'good-to-firm', to 'good-to-soft') is quite another, and runs the risk of very false, patchy ground which may be more harmful than natural fast going.
Everybody seems to forget last year - we all thought it was impossible, for all the politival and saftey reasons, for the going to be quicker than 'good-to-soft' (and even if it was quicker we assumed he would just lie about it and then change the description after the Champion Hurdle). But in the end he had no choice but to change it to 'good, good-to-soft in places', so with that precedent set, unless he lies (which turftrax should make impossible) I don't see good-to-soft anywhere in the description.
). But in the end he had no choice but to change it to 'good, good-to-soft in places', so with that precedent set, unless he lies (which turftrax should make impossible) I don't see good-to-soft anywhere in the description.
Absolutely no chance of good to firm on Tuesday, 40/1 should be 400/1.
There will come a time when they water to achieve good to soft and it hoses down all week and the ground is barely raceable....
There will come a time when they water to achieve good to soft and it hoses down all week and the ground is barely raceable....
Alleged maks a good point - the ground quickens up quite quickly anyway once they stop watering/start racing.
PP now only 11/4 good, but 50/1 good-to-firm. Good-to-Soft is still 2/5.
From everything I have seen and read (with the caveat that the weather forecast may change nearer the meeting) I think the prices should currently be 1/2 good, 4/1 good-to-firm, 5/1 good-to-soft, 100/1 any other.
Either I've got it terribly wrong (quite possible
) or this is the old 'gift horse in the mouth' moment
If it is 'good-to-soft' has anyone got a large cardboard box I can borrow from Tuesday 13th March
From everything I have seen and read (with the caveat that the weather forecast may change nearer the meeting) I think the prices should currently be 1/2 good, 4/1 good-to-firm, 5/1 good-to-soft, 100/1 any other.
Either I've got it terribly wrong (quite possible
) or this is the old 'gift horse in the mouth' momentIf it is 'good-to-soft' has anyone got a large cardboard box I can borrow from Tuesday 13th March
strontium
26 Feb 12 12:24
Alleged maks a good point - the ground quickens up quite quickly anyway once they stop watering/start racing.
Last year on the Monday it was 'good-to soft, good in places' when they stopped watering. A dry night and it was changed to 'good, good-to-soft in places on Tuesday morning.
26 Feb 12 12:24
Alleged maks a good point - the ground quickens up quite quickly anyway once they stop watering/start racing.
Last year on the Monday it was 'good-to soft, good in places' when they stopped watering. A dry night and it was changed to 'good, good-to-soft in places on Tuesday morning.
Quite tempted to have a smallish bet on any other with PP that (I think) encompasses good to firm. OK, its still unlikely to happen, but I dont think it should be a 50/1 shot given the forecast, drainage speed and current going.
However, since a policy was put in force by course officials to provide good-to-soft ground for the opening-day, the NH-bred horses have started to come out on top to the extent they filled the first four places last year following on from successive 1-2-3-4-5’s in 2009 and 2010 which is a big swing.
they will do all they can to have safe ground with the word soft in it on the opening day thats for sure
they will do all they can to have safe ground with the word soft in it on the opening day thats for sure
Maybe it's just me, because I've lived all my life on the Pennines, but I find the idea of betting on the weather both scary and stupefying...
Especially when they change the result 2 hours later.
Betting on the going is definitely 'proper hardcore' and not for the faint herated.
You shandy boys had better stick to the safety of the antepost horses.
You shandy boys had better stick to the safety of the antepost horses.
CHELTENHAM will begin watering again on Monday with another largely dry forecast for the week.
Watering last Wednesday, Thursday and Friday put down between 6-8mm and clerk of the course Simon Claisse reported the ground to be good, good to firm in places on Sunday afternoon.
"The forecast is for it to remain predominately dry and getting warmer," he added.
Claisse expects to addupto 12-15mm in the week to counteract the weather and maintain the ground description before turning up the watering in the last ten days if necessary.
"We're aiming to start the festival with good to soft ground," he said.
Cheltenham has recorded just over 3mm of rain in February, which compares to 40mm in the month last year.
Watering last Wednesday, Thursday and Friday put down between 6-8mm and clerk of the course Simon Claisse reported the ground to be good, good to firm in places on Sunday afternoon.
"The forecast is for it to remain predominately dry and getting warmer," he added.
Claisse expects to addupto 12-15mm in the week to counteract the weather and maintain the ground description before turning up the watering in the last ten days if necessary.
"We're aiming to start the festival with good to soft ground," he said.
Cheltenham has recorded just over 3mm of rain in February, which compares to 40mm in the month last year.
Why does everyone get upset at the idea of soft ground? Personally id rather it be soft than good to firm because then the winter's form lines are more likely to stand up! No danger of anything improving 20lb on what they've done all season because the ground's dryer!
People always go up in arms when Claisse says he's turning the taps on, given the lack of rain in Feb the ground would be firm everywhere without intervention.
They have no choice simple as that, but I am waiting for them to get it completely wrong one year, I only hope they never produce false/loose ground as that could be dangerous...
They have no choice simple as that, but I am waiting for them to get it completely wrong one year, I only hope they never produce false/loose ground as that could be dangerous...
I agree horse, but in fairness Claisse is very good at his job imo. One of the 2 best CoCs around imo, along with Osgood at Newbury.
The going on the first day will be good to soft, unless there's a deluge early the week of the festival, in which case it will be softer. The only way it will be good is if the watering system breaks. I don't agree with the policy, but the course have been very open about publicising it, and anyone who bets on good or faster is mad.
It was good last year you imbecile when they ahd exactly the same policy
they wont be any good to firm in the desription, 12 mm of rain forecast for the sunday/monday before festvial, make the ground perfect for racing, no chance of it been any firm as some idiots suggest
Despite being 99% certain that like last year it will be officially good (maybe with good-to-soft patches) I have now bailed and closed my position - still make nearly £400 if it's good, and £15 if it's good to soft so no harm done
After failing to start last year on good-to-soft I find it hard to believe he can actually say they are realistically still aiming for 'good-to-soft' this year given the current ground and weather situation, but I'm not taking the chance as I can smell bulls**t in th air.
After failing to start last year on good-to-soft I find it hard to believe he can actually say they are realistically still aiming for 'good-to-soft' this year given the current ground and weather situation, but I'm not taking the chance as I can smell bulls**t in th air.
I think you've got a case puncle. I hope the forecast is wrong, but, if it is correct, they'll surely struggle to get enough water down to get the ground to anything but good to firm. However, they won't dare use the word firm in the title on day one. It may be changed later on in the festival, but on the Tuesday they will call in good. If this happens, maybe there's a chance they will abandon the cross country and just run 26 races.
I sincerely hope they can get enough water down and/or mother nature intervenes. There are some very justifiable reservations about either happening. Don't believe they water the cross country course at all and goodness knows how quick that might get. The one difference between fast ground now and that from 20 years ago is the quality of the turf. Superb covering of grass when once they had large patches with virtually no grass. This must help with cushioning for the chasers but it won't stop them going faster and the worrying consequences of nasty falls.
I will reassess the going situation next weekend when the weather forecast right up to the start of the meeting is more concrete (like the ground might be) and once turftrax puts up a going map I may go in heavily again.
Always nice to be quids in before the racing gets started
) and once turftrax puts up a going map I may go in heavily again.Always nice to be quids in before the racing gets started
The XC races at Cheltenham are frequently run on good-to-firm. In Nov it was Firm, GtF in places and in December GtF, Firm in places. I don't think they'll abandon it - and it's not like they go fast!
You will be pleased to know that it is raining in Cheltenham at the moment. Don't think it will amount to much but we should be grateful for small mercies.
http://www.accuweather.com/en/gb/cheltenham/gl50-4/month/328267?view=table
NOT too MUCH rain forecast for the next week.
NOT too MUCH rain forecast for the next week.
Supposed to be a bit of rain around this weekend, then getting colder again. If Cheltenham fares better/worse than the national/local forecasts predict, I'll make mention of it on here. If it happens during the night, you'll have to rely on Simon Claisse!
February was basically a drought month here and the water table will be very low.
February was basically a drought month here and the water table will be very low.
The forecast rain this weekend is welcome (could be a nice heavy spell on Sunday) so it could get good-to-soft / softish but then next week is mainly cold and dry again.
There had been some suggestions of heavy rain in the 24 hours leading upto the first race but that seems to be have been heavily downgraded now with just the odd light showers forecast - will need to keep checking the forecast next week to see how it develops.
There had been some suggestions of heavy rain in the 24 hours leading upto the first race but that seems to be have been heavily downgraded now with just the odd light showers forecast - will need to keep checking the forecast next week to see how it develops.
Uncle even the most conservative forecast (rain wise) now would not see fast ground given the watering options - chances receeding by the day imo
Look at the forecast on 'The Weather Channel'....put in Cheltenham and click the 10 day forecast. I have found this to be very acurate over the past few years with planning holidays etc......
States there is rain/showers 7 days out of the next 10!!!!!!!!!!!...even if this changes a little there is still a very high cance of 5/6 days with it before the festival....with watering it WILL BE Good to Soft. That is the course policy and I am sure they will achieve it with ease.....it usually goes a little softer than that anyway.
States there is rain/showers 7 days out of the next 10!!!!!!!!!!!...even if this changes a little there is still a very high cance of 5/6 days with it before the festival....with watering it WILL BE Good to Soft. That is the course policy and I am sure they will achieve it with ease.....it usually goes a little softer than that anyway.
The current going is good, good to firm in places, but if tomorrows rain is a sheavy as they suggest then I accept it won't be good to firm now - never actually said it would be just put it up for discussion based on the long range weather forecasts and last years scenario.
But I still think it's just as likely to be good (maybe with good-to-soft in places) than anything else, so even at 2/1 or so 'good' still looks a fair bet to me. At 7/2 it was a no brainer imo.
The forecasts I've seen suggets very little if any rain from Monday onwards (though that can change) so he will definitely still need to water if he dosen't wamnt it on the fast side of good.
But I still think it's just as likely to be good (maybe with good-to-soft in places) than anything else, so even at 2/1 or so 'good' still looks a fair bet to me. At 7/2 it was a no brainer imo.
The forecasts I've seen suggets very little if any rain from Monday onwards (though that can change) so he will definitely still need to water if he dosen't wamnt it on the fast side of good.
it WILL BE Good to Soft. That is the course policy and I am sure they will achieve it with ease..
It may well end up being good-to-soft but despite everything I have written about last year (facts not my opinion) how can you categorically state it WILL BE good to soft - the policy was exactly the same last year and the odds of good-to-soft were something like 1/6 at this time, yet they didn't achieve it.
This year the going is currently much firmer with 10 days to go (that may change tomorrow), and last year they also had some rain forecast in the week leading up to the meeting and it didn't materialise, the end result being officially good ground. To keep insisting that just because the policy is for 'good-to-soft' that is what it will be is simply ignoring the facts.
If you are so absolutley certain it won't be anything else lay me 100/1 on good
It may well end up being good-to-soft but despite everything I have written about last year (facts not my opinion) how can you categorically state it WILL BE good to soft - the policy was exactly the same last year and the odds of good-to-soft were something like 1/6 at this time, yet they didn't achieve it.
This year the going is currently much firmer with 10 days to go (that may change tomorrow), and last year they also had some rain forecast in the week leading up to the meeting and it didn't materialise, the end result being officially good ground. To keep insisting that just because the policy is for 'good-to-soft' that is what it will be is simply ignoring the facts.
If you are so absolutley certain it won't be anything else lay me 100/1 on good
Turfttrax now has thenCheltenahm map up.
http://maps.turftrax.co.uk/latestgoingreport.asp?course=Cheltenham
Forecast says rain at weekend, cooler midweek, then dry and mild
Will be very interesting to look on Monday and see how tomorrows rain affects the course.
http://maps.turftrax.co.uk/latestgoingreport.asp?course=Cheltenham
Forecast says rain at weekend, cooler midweek, then dry and mild
Will be very interesting to look on Monday and see how tomorrows rain affects the course.
It's been raining heavily here on course since early this morning. Ruined my walk over Cleeve Hill!
It could well be good to firm .
But he wont give out gd to firm as official to start the meet.
What the ground actually is & what he gives out official aint necessarily going to be the same
10-15 mill expected today to ease his problem
But he wont give out gd to firm as official to start the meet.
What the ground actually is & what he gives out official aint necessarily going to be the same
10-15 mill expected today to ease his problem
News update from Gloucestershire. No longer gentle rain now absolutely p1ssing down. From one extreme to another. Puddles at Prestbury Park.
Just beginning to clear now. Must have been raining for near 7 hours.
anyone got news on the going? has it continued to rain? turftrax?
cheers for any updates
cheers for any updates
Dry and cold overnight jud. Sunny and breezy today. Next rain forecast Wednesday.
Two of the most reliable long range weather forecast sites show similar models indicating little or no rain from mid week to at the least the middle of next week. The models can change of course but they tend to fairly accurate up to a week in advance. The taps will be turned on again if thats the case.
Which sites do you use Shtmlf ? Long range forecasts (week to 2 weeks ahead) are important for my business. Cheers.
I'm not great at pasting links, so I'll write the names. Theweatheroutlook.com , click data, then outlook models. ECMWF or GEM give forecasts up to 240 hours ahead. The other site is a handy quick visual one, Wetterzentrale.com, its in German, but on the home page to the right is a 9-tage ( 9 day ) GFS set of picture models, which show at the moment, high pressure near the UK for most of the next nine days.
This is the link to see he turftrax map
http://maps.turftrax.co.uk/latestgoingreport.asp?course=Cheltenham
Gonna be a close call between good and good to soft - dry today and tomorrow which should see it dry back to good / good to soft in places., With some light rain forecast Wednesday and then showery on Saturday/Sunday/Monday it may mean he holds off watering. If like last year the showers fail to materialise (and some weather sites are not suggesting showers) then I can see a similar scenario to last year.
Heres a link to the official metoffice 5 day forecast for Cheltenham:
http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/uk/sw/cheltenham_forecast_weather.html
http://maps.turftrax.co.uk/latestgoingreport.asp?course=Cheltenham
Gonna be a close call between good and good to soft - dry today and tomorrow which should see it dry back to good / good to soft in places., With some light rain forecast Wednesday and then showery on Saturday/Sunday/Monday it may mean he holds off watering. If like last year the showers fail to materialise (and some weather sites are not suggesting showers) then I can see a similar scenario to last year.
Heres a link to the official metoffice 5 day forecast for Cheltenham:
http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/uk/sw/cheltenham_forecast_weather.html
Local radio forecast from the Bristol weather centre this morning advises that after some rain overniht tonight and into tomorrow morning, high pressure will build from the south for the weekend and into next week. Get to hoses out Simon!
http://maps.turftrax.co.uk/latestgoingreport.asp?course=Cheltenham
Despite Sundays rain it has already dried out to good good to firm in places. A little rain due on Wednesday then dry and mild (sunny and warm from Sunday).
Maybe some of you might owe me a bloody great apology come Tuesday and at the very least should have given my analysis the respect it deserved.
Despite Sundays rain it has already dried out to good good to firm in places
. A little rain due on Wednesday then dry and mild (sunny and warm from Sunday).Maybe some of you might owe me a bloody great apology come Tuesday and at the very least should have given my analysis the respect it deserved.
As far as I can see it's either good or good to soft, could be either so happy to be on good at longer odds, he'll need to put plenty of water on yet to achieve g/s. Could also be tricky for him to commit to that with an unsettled forecast over the weekend.
Will be much clearer after we see how much rain they get tonight - could be a fair old drop according to some forecasts.
There is no real rain to speak off in the weekend forecasts on any of the weather sites - after tomorrow it is dry all the way to the festival.
8mm should take it to the soft side of good so with watering that should be maintained with ease - perfect ground.
You seem pretty confident of that MWS......you some kinda John Kettley character ?!?!?!
Looks like Cheltenham missed much of the rain today:
CHELTENHAM commenced watering on Wednesday to counteract drying conditions that have quickened the ground in recent days.
Officials applied 17 millimetres to the chute in the middle of the Old and New courses and more will be added with the dry spell set to continue.
Clerk of the course Simon Claisse said on Wednesday: "We did the chute today, putting down seventeen millimetres. We will continue watering round the Old and New courses on Thursday and Friday."
The going on the Old and New courses is good, good to firm in places, while it is good to firm, good in places on the cross-country course.
The forecast is for more dry weather with Claisse adding: "It is forecast to be dry, bright and sunny and getting warmer."
How the hell good-to-soft is still odds on I will never know.
CHELTENHAM commenced watering on Wednesday to counteract drying conditions that have quickened the ground in recent days.
Officials applied 17 millimetres to the chute in the middle of the Old and New courses and more will be added with the dry spell set to continue.
Clerk of the course Simon Claisse said on Wednesday: "We did the chute today, putting down seventeen millimetres. We will continue watering round the Old and New courses on Thursday and Friday."
The going on the Old and New courses is good, good to firm in places, while it is good to firm, good in places on the cross-country course.
The forecast is for more dry weather with Claisse adding: "It is forecast to be dry, bright and sunny and getting warmer."
How the hell good-to-soft is still odds on I will never know.
It shouldn't be unc. No more meaningful rain forecast before next Tuesday....might be some drizzle over the weekend apparently but hardly measureable. Whilst the course has its own reservoir, it is a finite resource....about 6 million gallons I believe and a third of that must already have been used.
Claisse can call it what he likes. The race times will tell us that it is no slower than good ground.
Claisse can call it what he likes. The race times will tell us that it is no slower than good ground.
After all the watering last week and the rain on Sunday, the Monday description was still 'good in places'
It would appear that for 'soft' to appear in the going it is going to need significant rain on that particular day - Cheltenham just drains too fast now
It would appear that for 'soft' to appear in the going it is going to need significant rain on that particular day - Cheltenham just drains too fast now
Said in another fred yesterday, he will have to divert the river Severn to get this actually G2S come Tuesday. However, this would not be the first time the ground has dried out significantly between the start and finish of the first race...
Yes Sunshine Cheltenham has a remarkable drying spell from annoucement of official ground around noon & before 2nd race commences.
Deffo geoff, it could be one of life's great mysteries if the reason was not so patently obvious..
Latest update from Claisse
Cheltenham continue to water
9th March 2012
Cheltenham will continue to water the chase and hurdles courses ahead of the opening day of the Festival on Tuesday.
With no rain in sight ahead of the four-day bonanza, officials are keeping the taps turned on to ensure the best possible conditions for jump racing's biggest meeting of the year.
"The going on the chase and hurdles courses is now good, good to soft in places, while on the cross-country course it is good to firm," said clerk of the course Simon Claisse.
Cheltenham continue to water
9th March 2012
Cheltenham will continue to water the chase and hurdles courses ahead of the opening day of the Festival on Tuesday.
With no rain in sight ahead of the four-day bonanza, officials are keeping the taps turned on to ensure the best possible conditions for jump racing's biggest meeting of the year.
"The going on the chase and hurdles courses is now good, good to soft in places, while on the cross-country course it is good to firm," said clerk of the course Simon Claisse.
IF the offical dec is not Good to Soft come Tuesday I'll be surprised, but I'll be even more surprised if immediately after the 1st race it's not changed to full Good. Quite why we go through the saga year in year out on here I don't know, Good to Soft would probably still be declared if it hadn't rained since last March!
Yep....the good to soft in places are 3 patches down the far side which are about 10 yards in diameter!
Light drizzle would probably take it Soft, even a patch of fog might be enough...
And then when something does 3-54 in the Supreme he'll change it
I can remember Shadow Leader clocking roundabout a 3-47, anyone clock a faster one??
Warm sun beating down on the course for the 2nd day running, no sign of any rain at all before the off and Good continues to drift.... you gotta laff!
Turftrax this morning shows a tiny bit of good-to-soft the rest good. He said he will water again today but then leave it, so even if he gets it good-to-soft, good in places by end of this afternoon, with another sunny day due on Monday it will surely dry up in the 36 hours upto Supreme Novices off time.
I'm thinking along very similar lines. I also think that Claisse will be quite happy to declare good, good to soft in places on the day, the places may be tiny but the fact they are there will be enough for him.
He's also said he's watering the New course Wednesday night to achieve good to soft Thursday and to ensure it doesn't ride too quick Friday - danger of false ground Thursday IMO....
Dont think there is much danger of false ground, it sometimes happens when it rains after watering
Hope you're right Zilzal.
The way the weather is set the New course will be quick by Wednesday, depends how much water his puts down but whatever he does apply has got to last Friday too, he's in a touch position to be fair...
The way the weather is set the New course will be quick by Wednesday, depends how much water his puts down but whatever he does apply has got to last Friday too, he's in a touch position to be fair...
You lot obviously haven't heard about the micro climate that surrounds Prestbury Park. I live about 2 miles away, it's been a gloriously sunny Spring day and the gardens in the pubs have been rammed with people. Draw your own conclusions......
This market is crazy, latest map on turtrax showing Good ground and only a couple of spots of G/S. No more watering due and no rain forecast yet you can still lay G/S at 2.08??
The festival is forecast to start on good, good to soft in places ground after clerk of the course Simon Claisse and his groundstaff completed the latest cycle of watering on the Old course on Sunday.
The only 'firm' in the ground will be in Tuesday's Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase with the largely in-field course good to firm on Sunday.
Speaking on Sunday, Claisse said: "It has been windy and sunny today. The forecast remains dry and warm with plenty of sunshine, and my hunch is that we will have to water the new course on Wednesday night."
Looks offical now - KERCHING
The only 'firm' in the ground will be in Tuesday's Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase with the largely in-field course good to firm on Sunday.
Speaking on Sunday, Claisse said: "It has been windy and sunny today. The forecast remains dry and warm with plenty of sunshine, and my hunch is that we will have to water the new course on Wednesday night."
Looks offical now - KERCHING
Looks like the guys doing the watering don't think they've got enough on,someone now looking to back at 1.4!
Another fine day forecast tomorrow and Tuesday. Pretty sure it will ride quicker first day than 12 months ago. What Claisse declares it as....anybody's guess!
Well his statement tonight (see my post above) says he will call it Good, good-to-soft in places - so thats basically official now. I don't think they are due to water anymore between now and the start of the meeting. The 'good-to-soft' in places is just a political point so that the executive can say it was on the easy side in case there are any fatalities.
Yep, I think they're finished now on the Old Course - according to Claisse they would be done by tea-time today. That means the course has the best part of 48 hours to dry out, which it will with mild conditions and no rain forecast.
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