The testing conditions at Newbury on Saturday are expected to challenge the participants, but the current forecast suggests that the day will proceed without any major issues.
Despite receiving more rain than initially predicted, Newbury does not plan to conduct an inspection at this stage. George Hill, the clerk of the course, revealed that they have experienced 45 millimetres of rainfall, exceeding the estimated 25-35mm anticipated at the time of entries. While other tracks have been caught off guard, Newbury remains optimistic, having received a considerable amount of rain without significant consequences.
Presently, the going is heavy with soft patches, and the forecast indicates an additional 2-7mm of rainfall, primarily in the afternoon. The team at Newbury will closely monitor the situation, hoping that the rain will cease by 5pm as expected. With the possibility of a dry spell lasting 18 hours, the track is predicted to maintain its described conditions or potentially improve slightly.
The track itself is in excellent shape, benefiting from the fresh ground on both tracks and recent vertidraining, which proved invaluable preparation ahead of the heavy rainfall. It's worth noting that the Betfair Hurdle has attracted a full field for the first time in four years, with the arrival of Willie Mullins' horses in the early hours of the morning adding further excitement to the event.
Unfortunately, Warwick's meeting on Saturday had to be cancelled due to a waterlogged track caused by a substantial 36mm of rainfall. This resulted in unfavourable conditions for both the Grade Two Kingmaker Novices' Chase and the Listed Warwick Mares' Hurdle, which featured the promising Cheltenham contender You Wear It Well.
Similarly, Uttoxeter's scheduled Saturday fixture has been abandoned due to a waterlogged course, with the potential for more rain in the forecast. However, following a morning inspection, Kempton's Friday meeting received the green light to proceed, while Bangor's jumps fixture scheduled for Thursday afternoon was regrettably called off.