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TurfTrax saying predominately good ground at Prestbury Park currently, how much watering do you think they’ll do in the event of no rainfall?
The usual amount of watering to provide GOOD TO SOFT ground maybe with SOFT in places.
Strange decision to start watering now when the rain was forecast and it’s currently bouncing down in the area.
Because ground with the word soft in some part of the description would be deemed to be more beneficial/safer/preferable to most horses running at that time of year?
Was that even a serious question?
Yes, TC. It is a serious question.
If trainers are seriously saying that good ground is a problem then I despair.
If you have not done so, read up on racing in the not long distant past. Before the era of watering, it really was not uncommon for good quality NH racing to take place with “firm” in the going description, even at tracks like Haydock. I am not aware of it having been a problem or top class horses of that era having more injuries.
I expect trainers today would faint with shock at the idea they should run their precious charges on such ground.
Some horses want good ground. Why should they be discriminated against and have their chances compromised by artificial watering?
If soft ground is so vital for modern NH racing and its trainers, maybe we have to ask if Cheltenham is being held at the wrong time of the year. Why not stage it in January instead, when soft ground is almost guaranteed?
I wish they’d leave the ground alone, quite frankly, unless it comes up like a road. Anyways, i live in Bristol and it’s absolutely lashed down today, so with Cheltenham not that far away i expect they’ve had its fair share today.
Next week looks fair though, so i expect it’ll come up Good by Thursday.I’m 44 , if the trainer’s keep complaining but the time I’m in my 60s the festival will be run on a artificial surface ….
2040 ” Dan what do you think of the surface ”
Dan ” ohh id like polytrack for my horse in the hcap and tapeta for my horse in the Champion hurdle
Pick 3 on Saturday champion 2025/2026
I don’t think they should water to get soft in the going description as some horses like good ground and good ground seems fine to me. But times change, the aspect of horse welfare is more in the spotlight, so i have accepted it.
Darren Bett on the BBC weather forecast has just said “little to no rain for the rest of the week” in Cheltenham (he mentioned the festival specifically), so the dreaded taps are bound to be turned on at some stage.
Who,ll make more money this week at Cheltenham …Guinness or the waterboard
Pick 3 on Saturday champion 2025/2026
You’re obviously the forum crank so I’ll make a mental note and move on.
You aint seen nothing yet!
I've stumbled on the side of twelve misty mountains
I've walked and I crawled on six crooked highwaysClerk of the course putting punters away again.
“Good-soft” my arse.
Clerks can get the forecast going wrong – either softer or firmer than the forecast good-soft. That’s no disgrace…
But after four races there is no excuse not to change the official going to GOOD.Value Is EverythingIt was good to soft early this morning. Understandable its quicker after sunny 14 degrees.
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