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Cheltenham Festival Going Update

Friday 18th March 2011

The Cheltenham Gold Cup field look set to encounter the fastest ground of the week at the festival with the chase course described as good on Friday morning.

There was 0.2mm of rain at the track overnight and clerk of the course Simon Claisse said he is expecting around 2mm of rain before racing although it was unlikely to effect the ground too much.

A mile and a half of fresh ground has been provided for the chase course while the hurdles course remains good, good to soft in places.

Speaking to Sky Sports News at 6.50am, Claisse said: "We've provided fresh ground on the chase course and the team have been out moving about a mile and a half of rail.

"My forecasters is saying we'll get 2mm of rain in the next couple of hours, the rain is about an hour away, and the going is good all round on the chase course.

"It's hardly been touched by a horse this week and should be lovely ground."

The highlight of the final day of the Cheltenham Festival is the Cheltenham Gold Cup at 3.20pm, which will be live on Channel 4 and .