SIMON CLAISSE ON GROUND & GOING

Simon Claisse, Clerk of Course at Cheltenham and Regional Head of Racing Jockey Club Racecourses South West, spoke this morning before the racing on the fourth and final day, Gold Cup Day, of The Festival 2017.

He said: “The ground dried out ever so slightly yesterday. I had a good walk round this morning and I have taken the good to soft in places out of the going description.

“The ground is now Good on both the Chase and Hurdle tracks of the New Course and there is fresh ground on the inner (seven yards).

“As to the weather, it looks like the wind is going to keep any rain out to the west of us, though there is a chance of a little light rain from 5pm onwards. There is only one race to go then and it is not going to make any difference to the ground conditions.”

Asked about the fences at Cheltenham, Classie replied: “We have two men on the fences, Keith and John, Keith has been here even longer than I have, 26 or 27 years. 

“They love these fences to bits, as if they are their children. The fences are here for two years and after that they strip out all of the birch, check that the oak frame is sound, replace any timbers that need replacing, and then they re-pack the fence with birch.

“We have seven more races to go at The Festival this year. We have had three terrific days racing, with 21 races so far, and I am looking forward to this afternoon enormously.”

UPDATED NON-RUNNERS

1.30pm JCB Triumph Hurdle
8  KING JULIEN (IRE) (Vet’s Certificate, Lame)

2.10pm Randox Health County Handicap Hurdle 
8  MICK JAZZ (FR) (Self Certificate, Lame)

3.30pm Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup 
5  EMPIRE OF DIRT (IRE) (Self Certificate, Stiff)

THE IRISH INDEPENDENT LEADING TRAINER AWARD AT THE FESTIVAL STANDINGS AHEAD OF GOLD CUP DAY

Trainer    1st   2nd   3rd
Gordon Elliott IRE   5   2   2
Willie Mullins IRE   4   2   3
Nicky Henderson   3   5   3
Henry de Bromhead IRE  1   1   2
Noel Meade IRE   1   -   1
Stuart Edmunds   1   -   -
Alan Fleming IRE   1   -   -
Jessica Harrington IRE  1   -   -
Patrick Kelly IRE   1   -   -
Ben Pauling    1   -   -
David Pipe    1   -   -
Nick Williams    1   -   -
Harry Fry    -   1   1
Tom George    -   1   1
Warren Greatrex   -   1   -
Malcolm Jefferson   -   1   -
Neil King    -   1   -
Charlie Longsdon   -   1   -
Gary Moore    -   1   -
Margaret Mullins IRE   -   1   -
Fergal O’Brien    -   1   -
Jonjo O’Neill    -   1   -
Colin Tizzard    -   1   -
Alan King    -   -   3
Enda Bolger IRE   -   -   1
Brian Ellison    -   -   1
Paul Nicholls    -   -   1
Dan Skelton    -   -   1
Venetia Williams   -   -   1 

THE BOODLES LEADING JOCKEY AWARD AT THE FESTIVAL STANDINGS AHEAD OF GOLD CUP DAY

Jockey    1st   2nd   3rd
Ruby Walsh    4   1   2
Noel Fehily    2   2   1
Bryan Cooper    2   1   2
Nico de Boinville   2   -   2
Mr Jamie Codd   2   -   -
Davy Russell    1   2   3
Jack Kennedy    1   -   1
Miss Gina Andrews   1   -   -
David Bass    1   -   -
Richard Johnson   1   -   -
Ms Lisa O’Neill   1   -   -
Denis O’Regan   1   -   -
Robbie Power    1   -   -
Tom Scudamore   1   -   -
Aidan Coleman   -   3   -
Paddy Brennan   -   1   1
Adrian Heskin    -   1   1
Daryl Jacob    -   1   1
Brian Hughes    -   1   -
Jeremiah McGrath   -   1   -
Mr Noel McParlan   -   1   -
Jamie Moore    -   1   -
Danny Mullins    -   1   -
David Mullins    -   1   -
Mr Derek O’Connor   -   1   - 
Paul Townend    -   1   -
Trevor Whelan   -   1   -
Wayne Hutchinson   -   -   2
Danny Cook    -   -   1
Charlie Deutsch   -   -   1
Mr Patrick Mullins   -   -   1
Sam Twiston-Davies   -   -   1
Mr Sam Waley-Cohen  -   -   1

THE IRISH THOROUGHBRED MARKETING LEADING OWNER AWARD AT THE FESTIVAL STANDINGS AHEAD OF GOLD CUP DAY 

Owner    1st   2nd   3rd
Gigginstown House Stud  3   2   2
J P McManus    2   2   3
Andrea & Graham Wylie  2   -   1
Susannah Ricci   1   1   1
Ann & Alan Potts   1   1   -
Paul & Clare Rooney   1   1   -
Barry Connell     1   -   -
Maura Gittins    1   -   -
J Humberstone   1   -   -
Edward O’Connell   1   -   -
Aidan O’Ryan    1   -   -
Patricia Pugh    1   -   -
Sally Rowley-Williams  1   -   -
The Knot Again Partnership  1   -   -
Philip Reynolds   1   -   -
The Macaroni Beach Society  1   -   -
Prof Caroline Tisdall & Bryan Drew 1    -   -
Simon Munir & Isaac Souede -   1   1
Martin Broughton & Friends (1) -   1   -
Adrian Butler & S O'Connor  -   1   -
John & Barbara Cotton  -   1   -
Davies Smith Govier & Brown -   1   -
Mrs J Donnelly   -   1   -
Force Eight Syndicate  -   1   -
Chris Giles    -   1   -
N Griffith & H Haddock  -   1   -
Trevor Hemmings   -   1   -
Masterson Holdings Limited  -   1   -
John Stone    -   1   -
Alan & Andrew Turner  -   1   -
Walters Plant Hire Ltd  -   1   - 
Mike Grech & Stuart Parkin  -   -   2
Chris Jones    -   -   2
Doone Hulse Susie Saunders & Lady Cobham -   -   1
D Gilbert, M Lawrence, A Bruce, G Wills -   -   1
HP Racing Who Dares Wins  -   -   1
Mrs M Hurley    -   -   1
Middleham Park Racing  -   -   1
Richard & Lizzie Kelvin-Hughes -   -   1
Sideways Syndicate   -   -   1
The Bellamy Partnership  -   -   1
Walters Plant Hire & James & Jean Potter  -   -   1