Cheltenham Racecourse officials are gearing up for the highly anticipated Festival, set to commence on ground that is expected to be close to soft.
With the flagship event just a fortnight away, Prestbury Park has been no stranger to the wet conditions experienced across the country this winter. However, a rare spell of dry weather over the weekend has brought some relief to the clerk of the course Jon Pullin.
Reflecting on the challenging weather conditions, Pullin remarked,
“It's been a notably damp lead-up to this year's Festival.”
He expressed gratitude for the respite from rain, enabling the grounds team to kickstart preparations for the upcoming racing spectacle.
"We anticipate soft ground due to the recent rainfall, with certain sections of the cross-country course being particularly heavy,"
he added.
Despite the looming possibility of further rain in the forecast, Pullin remains cautiously optimistic about the ground conditions leading up to the Festival's opening day on March 12. He noted,
“While the weather outlook for the next week or so appears uncertain, it seems Thursday might bring some more rain. However, beyond that, conditions look relatively stable.”
Assessing the current situation, Pullin shared, “Barring any major weather disruptions, it's likely we'll maintain similar ground conditions as we head into the Festival. The forecast doesn’t suggest any drastic changes at this point.” He highlighted the favourable weather compared to the previous year, underlining the positive impact on the track's grass cover.
Taking proactive measures to enhance the track's condition, Pullin mentioned,
“We recently applied fleece to the New course's home straight for a fortnight to aid in its recovery. Following today's maintenance work, the grass is showing promising signs of growth, and we're content with our progress at this stage.”