Cheltenham Official Going

Theborderfox81

Anyone know if it's still soft over there? Tried online but no info available. A lot of the racecourses in the northern half of England have dried out and gone good to soft but obviously Ascot last Saturday was soft. A week or two of drying is needed. Good to soft is what we've come to expect each year.

Overthelast

Doubt they'll have much issue achieving gs on day 1. Drainage at the track is excellent. Every year the clerk of the course becomes a minor celebrity with his ground updates in the run up to day1.

Theborderfox81

Ya hopefully although it's been on the heavy side there since early December. There was a documentary on Channel 4 earlier about all the rain in England in December and Gloucester was hit by unbelievable flooding. Drainage or no drainage Simon Claisse will have his work cut out to get it good/soft for the 12th March.

sting60

Cheltenham will be good to soft on the first day as is their rules.

RichieLawlor

sting60 wrote: »

Cheltenham will be good to soft on the first day as is their rules.

At best it will be good to soft, not any firmer. The 'as per there rules' bit is funny, if the weather continues in its current vain then how will they manage the good part

premierstone

RichieLawlor wrote: »

At best it will be good to soft, not any firmer. The 'as per there rules' bit is funny, if the weather continues in its current vain then how will they manage the good part

What the ground actually is and what Simon Claisse declares it as are two entirely different things

sting60

RichieLawlor wrote: »

At best it will be good to soft, not any firmer. The 'as per there rules' bit is funny, if the weather continues in its current vain then how will they manage the good part

I knew someone would pick that up.

Overthelast

RichieLawlor wrote: »

At best it will be good to soft, not any firmer. The 'as per there rules' bit is funny, if the weather continues in its current vain then how will they manage the good part

Its been largely dry & sunny since late last week, and a little warmer. If it continues in its current vain, well, I wouldn't put it past them bringing out the watering can in the run up to the festival. I've seen it bone dry at Prestbury while other places are soft or heavy. They have excellent drainage.

Keep an eye on these - usually quite accurate

http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/2635167

http://www.britishhorseracing.com/goracing/racing/going/default.asp

Regards,

Michael Fish

beaker1

heres another good site for weather up-dates


http://www.weathercommerce.net/racing/index.aspx

Theborderfox81

Thanks lads. This is the first full dry week forecast since early December. Should make a massive difference.

byronbay2

http://www.sportinglife.com/racing/news/article/465/8513821/cheltenham-taps-could-go-on

There you go - I suppose it was inevitable! Anyway, it wouldn't be the Cheltenham festival without a "he should water/he shouldn't water" discussion/argument!

Overthelast

To be quickly followed by trainers giving out about him even considering taking out the watering can.

Going through the will he water it or won't he each year is a bit like sunday service - we don't like it, but just have to go through it if we want to reach the promised land.

I want Simon Claisse's job.

Slattsy

Any update on the ground?

UrbanSea

Good to firm, firm in places

byronbay2

RichieLawlessness wrote: »

Good to firm, firm in places

Yeah, and Simon Claisse has said that he will definitely, definitely not water the course, no matter what happens. BTW, no rain is forecast for the next 3 weeks.

ft9

byronbay2 wrote: »

Yeah, and Simon Claisse has said that he will definitely, definitely not water the course, no matter what happens. BTW, no rain is forecast for the next 3 weeks.

Only a few days ago he was saying watering may well go ahead.

Slattsy

Im not trying to be smart, but did Claisee actually say he wouldnt be watering ?

ft9

Slattsy wrote: »

Im not trying to be smart, but did Claisee actually say he wouldnt be watering ?

I highly doubt it.

Overthelast

Slattsy wrote: »

Im not trying to be smart, but did Claisee actually say he wouldnt be watering ?

No.

This is what he said.

http://www1.skysports.com/horse-racing/news/12426/8513895/Simon-Claisse-has-revealed-that-he-may-have-to-water-Cheltenham-ahead-of-the-Festival.

ste2010

byronbay2 wrote: »

Yeah, and Simon Claisse has said that he will definitely, definitely not water the course, no matter what happens. BTW, no rain is forecast for the next 3 weeks.

Based on what site? Yr.no predicts rainfall and is pretty accurate

UrbanSea

I don't think people's sarcasm detectors are working very well today.

Rhinestone Cowboy

Slattsy wrote: »

Im not trying to be smart, but did Claisee actually say he wouldnt be watering ?

There is an interview with Claisse at http://www.fatjockey.com/news-blogs/racing_news.php?Cheltenham-Going-Reports-243 He will water imo

Slattsy

RichieLawlessness wrote: »

I don't think people's sarcasm detectors are working very well today.

Upon re-reading the thread and seeing his comment was a direct response to your 'good to firm' status, i now realise the error of my ways.

Juwwi

PP had betting on the official going the other day.

Good to soft was 4/5

Good or firmer was 5/2

soft or softer was 11/4

Im sorry l did'nt take the 4/5.
Good or firmer is practically impossible to happen unless the sprinklers brake
down.

I just checked and good to soft is now 8/13.
soft or softer 5/2
good or firmer 4/1

longshotvalue

robbie1977 wrote: »

PP had betting on the official going the other day.

Good to soft was 4/5:eek:

Good or firmer was 5/2

soft or softer was 11/4

Im sorry l did'nt take the 4/5.
Good or firmer is practically impossible to happen unless the sprinklers brake
down.

I just checked and good to soft is now 8/13.
soft or softer 5/2
good or firmer 4/1

Jeez ist that a better Fav that Quevega, they always manage to call it that no matter what the ground is like:)

Sir des champs

Slattsy wrote: »

Im not trying to be smart, but did Claisee actually say he wouldnt be watering ?

No watering taps will be turned on, rain forecast from next thursday until start of festival,simon claisse in todays racing post, 11/4 with pp soft or softer could be a bet.

the groutch

there's always good somewhere in the going, the course just drains too well

Juwwi

Updated odds today from PP

good to soft 8/13
good or firmer 5/2
soft or softer 10/3

they have cut good or firmer from 4/1 yesterday into 5/2 today.
have they took money on it.
good or firmer is nearly impossible to happen.

Sir des champs

robbie1977 wrote: »

Updated odds today from PP

good to soft 8/13
good or firmer 5/2
soft or softer 10/3

they have cut good or firmer from 4/1 yesterday into 5/2 today.
have they took money on it.
good or firmer is nearly impossible to happen.

Soft or softer is a shoe in now at 10/3, start of festival will be soft

klairondavis

Even if the going was good to firm, it would never be officially declared as such. Unless there is a deluge in the next 12 days, the going description will be good to soft.

Overthelast

Sir des champs wrote: »

No watering taps will be turned on, rain forecast from next thursday until start of festival,simon claisse in todays racing post, 11/4 with pp soft or softer could be a bet.

2 words Sir. Aer Lingus (just flying a kite chief!!). GS, if rain arrives, soft. Good bet.

Juwwi

Press release by the racecourse re going and a few other issues

Cheltenham Racecourse is being readied for The Festival, which lasts for four
thrilling days between Tuesday, March 12 and Friday, March 15.
Ian Renton, the Regional Director of Jockey Club Racecourses, said today at a
media event at the racecourse: “I am delighted to be here with the 2013 Festival less
than a fortnight away, witnessing the anticipation which builds every day, and very
lucky to have a fantastic team around me who will deliver the best possible
experience for all our racegoers.
“Regarding ticket sales this year, we have reduced capacity on Gold Cup Day to a
maximum of 67,000 people and, as a result, we are almost sold out for the day. The
Best Mate Enclosure sold out a while ago, the Tattersalls Enclosure earlier his week
and we anticipate the last few badges for the Club Enclosure will be sold by this time
next week.
“Ticket sales for the first three days are ahead of last year’s level, which is a great
indication of the continuing popularity of this tremendous event. There will still be
tickets available on the day for all enclosures at the entrances over the first three
days.
“Hospitality sales continue to be very strong and many of the facilities over the four
days are already sold out but we have got some restaurant space available.
“We have not made massive changes from last year. When I came here four months
ago, I recognised that the event we have got is fantastic - a wonderfully successful
four days of racing in March - and therefore it did not need radical change.
“People who come here in March remember what the participants do, the horses,
riders, trainers and owners, rather than what I and the team do.
“There will be a few minor changes this year, hopefully adding to the experience of
racegoers.
“We have been working closely with Jockey Club Catering to improve three of the
facilities in the main grandstand including the Tommy Atkins bar, while there will be
more toilets in the Best Mate Enclosure and the tented village.
“We are improving ticket collection as well as trying to reduce the impact of ticket
touts, moving them back to ensure they are not the overpowering presence they
have been in the past - we are working very closely with the police on this.”
Simon Claisse, Head of Racing, South West Region & Clerk of the Course, reported
that his groundstaff were able to get on the track with light machinery last week for
the first time October and all the courses have had aeration treatment, with fertiliser
also applied.
The going is currently soft, good to soft in places and drying out slowly. Without any
rain, the going description will change in five or six days to good to soft, soft in
places.
Temperatures are set to rise next week, climbing to be between 9C and 12C, while
rainfall is forecast between Thursday, March 7 and the start of The Festival on
Tuesday, March 12, with between 15 and 18 millimetres due to fall.
He said: “If the rainfall materialises as forecast, then The Festival is likely to start
with soft ground. If so, there is a good chance we will get through the four days
without having to do any watering.
“Because the weather has been so wet this season, tiny amounts of rain have been
making a difference.
“The ground used at The Festival has not been raced on since March of last year so
it is fresh ground. On the New Course, which we switch to on the Thursday of the
Festival, there is fresh ground then for the chases and again on the Friday for the
Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup.
“The hurdles are the nearest to the stands that we have them during the whole year.
All the fences are in place except for second last on the Old Course and the fourth
last on the New Course which are both portable obstacles.”
Claisse is encouraged by the 15 race entries for The Festival made for Frenchtrained
horses this year and looking forward to welcoming raiders from across the
Channel.
Following the fall of Wishfull Thinking on the first circuit in last year’s Sportingbet
Queen Mother Champion Chase, the final fence was dolled off and not jumped.
Wishfull Thinking and his rider Richard Johnson went over the fence to the left and
through the running rail.
There is a now a new layout at that fence, with the running rail moved back so that if
a horse went left-handed again over the obstacle, they would not collide with
photographers or the crowd.
Also, there will be more directional boards should a fence need to be by-passed.
Kauto Star, the two-time Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup winner who is now retired,
will lead the parade before this year’s renewal of the chasing championship on
Friday, March 15.
TurfTrax sectional timing is being introduced at The Festival for the first time this

year.

Juwwi

PP updated odds today

good to soft 8/13

good or firmer 3/1

soft or softer 10/3

After reading the above bolded bit there could be value in taking the 10/3
soft or softer.

It could be worth watching the weather early next week to see if the rain is still on its way.

hucklebuck

Why is the capacity reduced on Friday?

Overthelast

Bump

RP Site this evening:

"With the festival creeping ever-nearer, Cheltenham clerk of the course Simon Claisse revealed on Wednesday that the course will be covered at the weekend to protect it from frost.

He said: "We remain good to soft, good in places, on both chase and hurdle tracks, and the cross-country is still good to soft, soft in places.

"We're looking at dawn temperatures on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday in the region of -3C and -4C, and we are going to put frost covers down on take-offs, landings, crossings and vulnerable places on the Old Course, and vulnerable places on the cross-country course on Sunday."

Shiver me timbers.....

sting60

Overthelast wrote: »

Bump

RP Site this evening:

"With the festival creeping ever-nearer, Cheltenham clerk of the course Simon Claisse revealed on Wednesday that the course will be covered at the weekend to protect it from frost.

He said: "We remain good to soft, good in places, on both chase and hurdle tracks, and the cross-country is still good to soft, soft in places.

"We're looking at dawn temperatures on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday in the region of -3C and -4C, and we are going to put frost covers down on take-offs, landings, crossings and vulnerable places on the Old Course, and vulnerable places on the cross-country course on Sunday."

Shiver me timbers.....

On Talk Sport this morning Claisse said they are expecting -6 ground temp with the outside chance of snow."We expect good to soft generally as Is aim for the first race every year".

beaker1

With colder weather forecast for next week, Boylesports are offering 5-1 that Tuesday's Glenfarclas Cross Country will be abandoned due to a frozen track and 6-1 snow will fall at Prestbury Park on any of the festival's four days.

TheMilkyPirate

I'd be fairly confident it's going to be on the softer side of good to soft come tuesday, Quite a bit of rain forecast.

Hurricane fly anyone?

Slattsy

Will Claisee bottle calling it soft ?