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Weather Watch 2026

Istabraq said:
That's great news, because it's natural soft, it's when they have to irrigate it gets messy.
If anyone has ever seen the antiquated method and equipment they have for watering you'll know why we need mother nature to determine the going, I've seen water from that hosepipe getting blown by the wind so only a fraction of the area gets it, it wouldn't be impossible for the variance in going across the track at various points to be soft and good to firm...
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Amazed to hear that Ista - so you have some horses costing half a million quid (one a million quid) running in THE premier National Hunt festival and the going on certain parts of the track is determined by which way the wind was blowing when they had the bowsers on :stupid:
 
Wayward Lad said:
Amazed to hear that Ista - so you have some horses costing half a million quid (one a million quid) running in THE premier National Hunt festival and the going on certain parts of the track is determined by which way the wind was blowing when they had the bowsers on :stupid:
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Seriously, have a look at some images of what they’re using, it’s archaic….
 
Istabraq said:
That's great news, because it's natural soft, it's when they have to irrigate it gets messy.
If anyone has ever seen the antiquated method and equipment they have for watering you'll know why we need mother nature to determine the going, I've seen water from that hosepipe getting blown by the wind so only a fraction of the area gets it, it wouldn't be impossible for the variance in going across the track at various points to be soft and good to firm...
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With the way Cheltenham dries and the current forecast, it could be good ground come the weekend. Could be some interesting results if 'official' going is g/s but it's really genuinely good.
 
Istabraq said:
Seriously, have a look at some images of what they’re using, it’s archaic….
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They use a spray from one side of the track to the other which can be heavily affected by the wind (and its always windy here!). However, they also have motorised gantrys that span across the course and spray downwards that are much less affected by wind. These inch very slowly along the track automatically - they are quite smart to be honest - and give a much more even watering.

As I said earlier there has been little need for watering this year - there was some needed in the autumn but its been pretty wet since the turn of the year.

After 2 dry days we have had a wet morning - not really heavy rain that we often get but a constant drizzle (and its still going) which will keep the going at soft for a little while yet. There is however no rain forecast for the next week so by this time next week I could see it tending towards good to soft if the forecast is true. It will then all depend on what we get in the 5 days leading up to the Festival but with the high water table it will not take too much to turn it back to soft. Forecast is hugely changeable here so will keep updating, especially if any rain comes.
 
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Prestbury said:
They use a spray from one side of the track to the other which can be heavily affected by the wind (and its always windy here!). However, they also have motorised gantrys that span across the course and spray downwards that are much less affected by wind. These inch very slowly along the track automatically - they are quite smart to be honest - and give a much more even watering.

As I said earlier there has been little need for watering this year - there was some needed in the autumn but its been pretty wet since the turn of the year.

After 2 dry days we have had a wet morning - not really heavy rain that we often get but a constant drizzle (and its still going) which will keep the going at soft for a little while yet. There is however no rain forecast for the next week so by this time next week I could see it tending towards good to soft if the forecast is true. It will then all depend on what we get in the 5 days leading up to the Festival but with the high water table it will not take too much to turn it back to soft. Forecast is hugely changeable here so will keep updating, especially if any rain comes.
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Thanks, mate. Enjoying these updates from you. Much appreciated.
 
Just got back from another lap of the course. We had a small bit of rain last night but I have to say that it has dried up quite a bit from Monday - I was quite surprised. It is bright and sunny today, with a fair wind (as usual). More concerning is the fact that the ten day forecast shows no rain at all - mix of sun and cloud but mid range temperatures of around 10C.

Whether the Clerk of the Course will need to put water on I'm not sure (I am able to see if he does) but if the forecast is correct then I think anything that needs genuinely soft ground is not going to get their conditions. This will certainly lead to some connections at least looking at possible late switches from shorter to longer races (e.g. BDA to Mares, July Flower to Stayers, Final Demand and/or The Yellow Clay to AB, Jango Baie to Browns) and some connections potentially pulling runners (I'd have a concern as to whether Willie would run the bumper fav on spring ground given he has other candidates (I have traded out of my position on him for now at 5.6 on Bex but will go back in if the forecast looks more favourable) and also whether Gordon would run all 3 of his in the Browns given they prefer soft ground).

The climate here is very localised and the forecasts are often inaccurate so will keep updating if anything changes.
 
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Prestbury said:
Just got back from another lap of the course. We had a small bit of rain last night but I have to say that it has dried up quite a bit from Monday - I was quite surprised. It is bright and sunny today, with a fair wind (as usual). More concerning is the fact that the ten day forecast shows no rain at all - mix of sun and cloud but mid range temperatures of around 10C.

Whether the Clerk of the Course will need to put water on I'm not sure (I am able to see if he does) but if the forecast is correct then I think anything that needs genuinely soft ground is not going to get their conditions. This will certainly lead to some connections at least looking at possible late switches from shorter to longer races (e.g. BDA to Mares, July Flower to Stayers, Final Demand and/or The Yellow Clay to AB, Jango Baie to Browns) and some connections potentially pulling runners (I'd have a concern as to whether Willie would run the bumper fav on spring ground given he has other candidates (I have traded out of my position on him for now at 5.6 on Bex but will go back in if the forecast looks more favourable) and also whether Gordon would run all 3 of his in the Browns given they prefer soft ground).

The climate here is very localised and the forecasts are often inaccurate so will keep updating if anything changes.
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Thank-you.
That forecast is a worry, no rain for 9 days will pretty much guarantee them wheeling out the hosepipes, exactly what no-one wanted.
Interesting point about the late switches....
 
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Thanks Prestbury glad you can keep us well informed. The days are flying in now, excitement building and really looking firward to this years festival.
 
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For any interested, I also find this page quite useful sometimes:
https://www.thejockeyclub.co.uk/cheltenham/owners-and-trainers/the-going/

I'm no expert, but the parts I look at are rain versus evapotranspiration. Currently 23mm vs 3.95mm over the last 7 days (i.e. ground getting softer), but 0.2 vs 0.73mm over the last 24 hours (i.e., ground getting better, as per Prestbury comments). I'm interested to see how that progresses over the next 10 days as an objective addition to Prestbury's brilliant insight.
 
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Kevloaf said:
Prestbury ...... we need a profile picture for you....

Fred the weather man?

Literally just googled and seen he's in jail ..... not him then!
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Fingered Ian Browns Bum hole.
Which should be commended these days with all the shit he comes out with.
 
Quevega said:
Fingered Ian Browns Bum hole.
Which should be commended these days with all the shit he comes out with.
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Bought music of the spheres and the optimist by Turin Brakes I think on the same day. Was going through a bit of a maudlin phase at the time. Took a while to shift but turned the corner after cranking out Core by Stone Temple Pilots at full volume. The guy above me kept playing Coldplay on his piano …sorted him out too.
 
If there’s no rain could have a big impact on the cross country field since they carnt water it. Not sure many will wanna run the national hopefuls on proper good ground with such a short turn around wouldn’t of thought
 
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We've now had 3 consecutive bright sunny days (yesterday was actually quite balmy for end Feb). I've just been around the course and its definitely drying out. I am still making an imprint but its much less soft than the start of the week. The grass on the actual course is quite long though which will help to retain moisture in the soil and I believe that the CoC said yesterday that its drying out slower than he expected. No sign of any watering equipment at the moment but the forecast is dry until Friday with a little rain (only a little) expected on Friday and Saturday.
 
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That rain due next weekend might be very handy . Hope it's enough to keep it G/S and they don't have to water.
 
Irish Rugby said:
That rain due next weekend might be very handy . Hope it's enough to keep it G/S and they don't have to water.
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It doesn't look like much - unless it changes (possible as there was no rain at all in the forecast a couple of days ago) I reckon he will have the taps out by the end of the week
 
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