Anticipated Good to Soft Ground for Cheltenham’s Trials Day Saturday Card

A total of 12mm of rain fell late on Sunday and continued into the early hours of Monday, causing the track to become good to soft, with some soft patches. However, the forecast for the upcoming weekend predicts only light showers, and the clerk of the course, Jon Pullin, expects the conditions to dry out. The racing on Saturday will take place on the New course, and ground has been preserved specifically for this fixture.

This race will be a significant change from Cheltenham’s last fixture on New Year’s Day, which was held on heavy ground due to heavy rainfall over the Christmas period. Pullin stated that they had received 12mm of rain on Sunday evening and overnight, resulting in the current ground conditions. However, with the anticipated dry weather for the remainder of the week, as long as there are no heavy showers, they expect the ground to dry out further.

Pullin praised the entries for this race as “fantastic.” The horses that may participate have collectively won 30 Grade 1 races. He described the card for the race as exceptional, with strong races in all categories. The Triumph Trial, in particular, is seen as a true test for the main event. The two handicaps are expected to be highly competitive, and the Graded races have a high quality field, especially the Cotswold Chase with notable contenders such as Datsalrightgino, Stay Away Fay, and The Real Whacker.

In addition to the Cotswold Chase, the Clarence House also promises to be an exciting race, and the Cleeve has attracted all the top favorites. Pullin concluded by highlighting that Racing Post has the best offers for this event.