SIMON CLAISSE TALKS GOING AND WEATHER AT 9AM
Ladies Day goes ahead after the forecast very strong winds did not materialise.
On the morning of the second day of The Festival™ presented by Magners, Cheltenham's Clerk of the Course Simon Claisse commented: "If you look at the clock, the ground yesterday wasn't as slow as some of the riders were suggesting.
"It was Soft yesterday and it has been dry overnight, so we have left it as Soft all round today on the Chase and Hurdle courses, and Soft, Heavy in places on the Cross Country course.
"The anticipated winds didn't materialise overnight; the forecast winds for the rest of the morning and for the afternoon have subsided a little, and it should be a mainly dry afternoon. There could be the odd shower and it will be blustery. Showers are forecast for the next couple of days."
Asked whether, in the light of the possible cancellation of today's racing due to the very strong winds that were predicted, he had been able to get any sleep last night, Claisse replied: "I should think about two hours, the same as the night before. On Monday night I wasn't sleeping because of the wind - last night I wasn't sleeping because it wasn't so windy! I got here about 4.45am this morning, and it was quite calm, which is the way it has stayed."
Discussing the state of the track, Claisse said: "I'm very happy with the way the course has gone back together after yesterday's racing. We've got something like 80 treaders out there at the moment and they will be hard at work until about an hour before racing."
The action switches from the Old Course to the New Course tomorrow, St Patrick's Thursday.
NON-RUNNERS AT 9.30AM
2.50pm Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle
26 JOKE DANCER (Going)
4.10pm Glenfrclas Cross Country Chase
8 HURRICANE DARWIN (IRE) (Self Certificate, Not Eaten Up)
4.50pm Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle
9 BEAT THE JUDGE (IRE) (Going)
RACING GOES AHEAD AT CHELTENHAM TODAY
Racing at Cheltenham today will go ahead following a precautionary inspection.
The strength of the winds has now moderated on the forecast allowing Simon Claisse, Clerk of the Course, to give the green light early in order to provide certainty to racegoers and participants before many journeys begin. We will continue to monitor the weather forecast moving forward.
Simon Claisse, Clerk of the Course at Cheltenham and South West Head of Racing for The Jockey Club, said this morning: "We are delighted that the weather conditions have changed from the initial forecasts and the prospect of higher wind speeds and gusts have receded.
