cheltenham festival / 2013 news / races

Cheltenham Festival Going Update

There is an OFFICIAL going change to:

SOFT (Good to Soft in places)

The going for the fourth and final day of The Festival, Gold Cup Day, remains the same,

GOOD TO SOFT, GOOD IN PLACES

Simon Claisse, Head of Racing, South West Region & Cheltenham's Clerk of the Course, said this morning: "The groundstaff team have done a fantastic job this week, frost every night except last night - what a relief that was.

"There were no frost covers down last night when there was a little light rain - hardly enough to measure, which has just freshened up the ground a little.

"I have left the going as good to soft, good in places. We have moved a mile and a half of rail overnight to provide fresh ground on the inside for the Gold Cup. That line is always a little bit quicker than the rest of the track.

"But the rain is coming. We could get three or four millimetres before the Gold Cup, with the rain arriving a bit earlier than we thought.

"The rain is certainly on its way. That could well lead us to soft ground by 3.20pm. The ground will turn very quickly, as two to three millimetres, which we could well get between noon and 3pm, will make this soft ground."

The chase rail has been moved in, reducing each circuit by 42 yards.

NON-RUNNERS

2.40pm Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle
4 BALLYBOUGH PAT (IRE) (Self Certificate, Going)
7 CLOUDY COPPER (IRE) (Self Certificate, Cast in Box)

3.20pm Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup
2 BOG WARRIOR (IRE) (Self Certificate, Lame)
9 SUNNYHILLBOY (IRE) (Self Certificate, Bad Scope)

4.40pm Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle
31 CLOUDY SPIRIT (Suspended from Running)