Storm Claudia set to batter Cheltenham with ‘significantly more’ than 30mm of rain forecast ahead of November meeting
The ground at Cheltenham will change dramatically before the November meeting as more than 30mm of rain is forecast for Thursday evening into Friday.
The going on Thursday morning was described as good to soft, good in places on the Old course, which is in use for the entirety of the three-day meeting. Although it is expected to be dry throughout the day on Thursday, a heavy band of rain is forecast to move in overnight, with the potential for more than 30mm of rain.
That is almost certain to render conditions at least soft, according to clerk of the course Jon Pullin, whose reports from the Met Office have developed significantly.
He said: “We’re perfectly raceable at the moment, but we do have Storm Claudia moving in by late evening and through tonight, and continually through the early hours and tomorrow.
“Up until yesterday the forecasts had indicated up to 20-30mm in total, but the latest update suggests it could be significantly more than that, so we’ll continue to monitor forecasts and conditions. We’ll just have to see what we get.
Cheltenham: more than 30mm of rain is forecast ahead of Friday’s fixtureCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)
“If we’ve had significant rainfall before racing tomorrow, we’ll almost certainly be starting on soft ground, and we’ll see where conditions go after that. Racing during heavy rain does tend to open it up more and it can ease it further.”
In addition to what the Met Office describes as a yellow national severe weather warning covering much of England and Wales, gusty winds of more than 40mph are forecast for Cheltenham on Friday and throughout racing.
A statement from Cheltenham later on Thursday advised racegoers to check the track’s website and social media channels on Friday, along with a pledge that ticket holders and members would be contacted directly at 7.30am with an update.
Groundstaff at the track have already endured a troublesome few months, with dry conditions sweeping the country and last month’s Showcase meeting being staged on going described as good.
Watering took place on the round course only last Friday, while the cross-country chase scheduled for Friday’s card was called off last week due to unraceable ground. It has been replaced by a veterans’ race (1.45) inherited from Wincanton’s October 26 fixture.
Fugitif: one of the runners in the veterans’ chaseCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)
The forecast looks kinder for the final two days of Cheltenham’s meeting and Pullin is not anticipating any issues.
“It certainly feels like the challenges keep coming, but that’s what we’re here for,” he said. “We’ll continue to do our best to get racing on and hopefully we’ll see some great racing this weekend.
“The forecast is the rain to continue after racing and finish about midnight on Friday and we’re pretty dry thereafter. We might see a very light shower on Saturday, but nothing too measurable in volume, and Sunday certainly looks dry.
“I’d be hopeful that if we are dry from the early hours of Saturday morning, then we shouldn’t encounter too many more problems.”
The feature event on Cheltenham’s opening day is the Grade 2 Shloer Chase (2.55), in which star attraction Jonbon attempts a third consecutive success in the race.
Jonbon: the star attraction at Cheltenham on FridayCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)
Elsewhere, Southwell is expecting 10-20mm from the early hours of Friday and throughout the day. The going is currently good to soft, soft in places for its Friday meeting.
The going is soft, good to soft in places ahead of Uttoxeter’s card on Saturday, with 15-30mm forecast from Friday morning into Saturday morning and gusts of wind reaching 40-50mph on Friday and 30-35mph on raceday.
Also on Saturday, there are conflicting reports for Wetherby, where the ground is currently good to soft, good in places. There have not yet been any inspections called for meetings in Britain.
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