The 2020 Cheltenham Festival, the build up WITH FINAL ENTRIES

Kauto Abu said:
I’d argue the contrary DO. The percentage chance of rain on most of those days is less than 20 percent and on some days less than 5 percent. It looks as though it’ll be showers passing over mainly.
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Yes, that did occur to me KA so fully get what you're saying.

Does anyone have any info on the water table this season. I reckon any rain that does fall is going to be falling on saturated ground and could therefore count for more than if it were falling on dry ground.

I'll be more than happy if we start the meeting on decent ground and even happier if it stays decent all week. I just think the sheer persistence of the small numbers could exaggerate their effect.
 
I'd say there is next to no chance the ground will be any better than soft day 1. There has been so much rain this winter and over the last few weeks that irrespective of drying conditions it'll take very little rain to keep the ground as it is or worse.

The fear would be if there's any significant rain whether we have a heavy ground Festival.

My guess is the walk from Prestbury over the fields and round the back of the course is almost unwalkable at the moment? I'm not sure if Darren or Roger have been down there? But it's usually the best indicator of where the water table is on the course and how quickly it's likely to dry.

I'd also say Claisse and the racecourse executive wouldn't be unhappy with soft ground anyway as it's usually the safest.
 
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Entry numbers for the races to be published tomorrow

Cross Country 26
Champion Bumper 35
Mares Novice 35
Foxhunter 34
 
Maruco said:
I'd say there is next to no chance the ground will be any better than soft day 1. There has been so much rain this winter and over the last few weeks that irrespective of drying conditions it'll take very little rain to keep the ground as it is or worse.

The fear would be if there's any significant rain whether we have a heavy ground Festival.

My guess is the walk from Prestbury over the fields and round the back of the course is almost unwalkable at the moment? I'm not sure if Darren or Roger have been down there? But it's usually the best indicator of where the water table is on the course and how quickly it's likely to dry.

I'd also say Claisse and the racecourse executive wouldn't be unhappy with soft ground anyway as it's usually the safest.
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Soft I can stomach.If it's heavy & Envoi goes the Supreme I'll be sick as a dog.
 
2018 going at start of festival was soft,heavy in places and was the first time for thirty five years "heavy" had featured in the going description. Last year was soft,heavy in places again. Surely not going to happen again.
On another count the grass looks magnificent this year, they have had to cut it three times this year already.
 
Is the chatroom open the Sunday before Cheltenham?

It would be good to get as many posters as possible in there that night to really debate what will win the races.

Still more room for debate.
 
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Marb said:
Is the chatroom open the Sunday before Cheltenham?

It would be good to get as many posters as possible in there that night to really debate what will win the races.

Still more room for debate.
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Yes I will sort that nearer the time :)
 
Racing Post up as usual (by 30p next week)

2012 - £1.90
2013 - £2 00
2014 - £2.10
2015 - £2.20
2016 - £2.30
2017 - £2.40
2018 - £2.90
2019 - £3.20
2020 - £3.50
 
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Is it just me or does anyone else get bog eyed going through all the entries. I’ve finally had a spare morning to have a proper look and with so many uncertain which race to go for, I find it a fecking nightmare! And I’m starting to lose the will to live.
 
I've hardly looked and, to be honest, I don't feel I've lost out on anything.

Not being able to study the form in detail has turned out a blessing of sorts!
 
jinnyj said:
Is it just me or does anyone else get bog eyed going through all the entries. I’ve finally had a spare morning to have a proper look and with so many uncertain which race to go for, I find it a fecking nightmare! And I’m starting to lose the will to live.
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I don't bother for the week leading up. I just wait for the final decs. I'm not sure which hysteria is worse this week, the corona virus or Cheltenham.
 
The 6 day decs offer practically nothing. Best things they’ve done in recent years are 48 hour confirmations and not being able to double confirm in most races.
 
Last chance of a festival preview streaming online

Join Luke Harvey at 7pm tonight as he hosts Ladbrokes' Cheltenham Festival Preview Night streamed live directly on our page. The panel includes experts Dan Skelton, Paul Townend, the Racing Post's David Jennings and Ladbrokes' Nicola McGeady

https://www.facebook.com/ladbrokes/
 
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