Good Ground Listed at Cheltenham

Cheltenham has been enjoying a good run of sunshine over the past few days with only trace amounts of precipitation falling over the last few days. Many observers had expressed a mild amount of concern that the going might potentially be a bit too firm heading into festival time and forcing a reshuffling of the ante post handicapping for the four-day event.

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The latest news from the Cheltenham ground staff is that the going is now listed as good and that course officials are happy with the ground for the festival.

Substantial watering had been undertaken over much of the last week and it appears as though the ground staff has achieved the desired effect.

Speaking to the media this morning, Cheltenham's clerk of the course Simon Claisse declared “We've achieved what we were hoping to achieve and it's good ground all round, both over the hurdles and fences. The course looks in fantastic condition, a little light rain is forecast from Friday to Monday, and then we may put some more water on early next week.”

The current goal is said to be a listing of good to soft ground for the festival kick-off on March 13. Getting into the specifics of the course descriptions, the cross-country track is rated at good to firm, firm in places while the going on the main courses are listed as good.

Some punters may be handicapping for slightly firmer going on the opening day at least, long-term forecasts indicate that a small amount of precipitation is likely between now and festival time but nothing to substantially alter the equation.