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Weather Watch 2021

It’s absolutely horrible here now. Strong winds and rain, but it’s only light rain, really wish I’d stayed at home. Cheltenham are restricting access around the course from tomorrow with accredited personnel only through main gates with fences at public entrances ready to go up. Just a heads up for locals intent on coming down here, they are going to make it difficult
 
It’s absolutely horrible here now. Strong winds and rain, but it’s only light rain, really wish I’d stayed at home. Cheltenham are restricting access around the course from tomorrow with accredited personnel only through main gates with fences at public entrances ready to go up. Just a heads up for locals intent on coming down here, they are going to make it difficult

Haha, always knew #112 would bite you in the arse.

Great effort though...
 
Haha, always knew #112 would bite you in the arse.

Great effort though...

Haha yeh its proper grim here now. For those that wanted rain you've got it, big time. Hasn't stopped for a few hours. Will be interesting what a few sustained days like this will do to the ground but like I said, rain with heavy wind should dry the ground much quicker than just rain
 
Haha yeh its proper grim here now. For those that wanted rain you've got it, big time. Hasn't stopped for a few hours. Will be interesting what a few sustained days like this will do to the ground but like I said, rain with heavy wind should dry the ground much quicker than just rain

This is why I couldn’t understand them watering yesterday with heavy rain forecast for today... if it didn’t come then still plenty of time to water
 
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I wouldn't say we've had that much rain tbh and I've just been outside and it's virtually stopped.
 
Haha yeh its proper grim here now. For those that wanted rain you've got it, big time. Hasn't stopped for a few hours. Will be interesting what a few sustained days like this will do to the ground but like I said, rain with heavy wind should dry the ground much quicker than just rain

Spoke to a supplier earlier this evening based in the UK in Birmingham so not too far from the course so I asked him about the weather. Said the ground had been drying out and not too bad then by noon today it had softened to like a bog again, water table still very high after winter he reckoned. Health warning he didn’t say where he had been and it was more likely a farm than a racecourse but still an interesting anecdote. Wouldn’t know the first thing about it like but would be interesting to see what effect if any it had on the drainage at the course.
 
Personal view, if they leave it to the elements the ground would be good/good to soft in places, or good to soft/good in places. I think they will water again Sunday/Monday to provide good to soft/soft in places and water again on Wednesday to give the same for Thursday/Friday
 
It’s pissing down in South Wales and even though it’s been dry over the past fortnight it’s also been cold. I can’t see it being good ground next Tuesday, the ambient temperature is just not warm enough and it’s forecast rain until Friday. I’m no meteorologist but the daffodils have still not flourished yet in my local park so even they think it’s still winter!! I’m going to have to put my hand in my pocket this Sunday and buy some flowers from the supermarket now that nature has let me down!!!

I think it will be soft on Tuesday regardless what the clerk says, I think good to soft on Thursday & Friday
 
Surely someone’s got the skill sets to alter that map of the Cheltenham course into a cock and balls?? Every time I see it I hope it’s been vandalised to resemble the male meat and veg, it’s got to be done just to keep the zen balance within the universe. It could be coloured blue to display firm/hard going!!! I don’t have the skill sets to perform such a work of art but can anyone turn Prestbury Park into a cock & balls
 
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Interesting piece in ATR site re dodgy first day official going reports. Altior's Supreme win on official G/S Soft in places was, according to times, actually on Good ground. Vautour Supreme win on G/S Good in places was actually Good G/F in places ! Always check time of Supreme race to know the actual going.
 
Interesting piece in ATR site re dodgy first day official going reports. Altior's Supreme win on official G/S Soft in places was, according to times, actually on Good ground. Vautour Supreme win on G/S Good in places was actually Good G/F in places ! Always check time of Supreme race to know the actual going.

Safety issues are getting stiffer regards equine safety and is now paramount in the going specially because it has to last into the second day on each course.
 
Safety issues are getting stiffer regards equine safety and is now paramount in the going specially because it has to last into the second day on each course.

Still doesn't mean the 'official' going is factually correct though. Sticking a stick in the ground is very hit and miss. That's why taking the time of the Supreme is very important.
 
Still doesn't mean the 'official' going is factually correct though. Sticking a stick in the ground is very hit and miss. That's why taking the time of the Supreme is very important.

What if they don’t run fast.