Diamond Geezer
Gone But Not Forgotten
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From the Racing Post
Clerk of the course Simon Claisse on Wednesday maintained that the hallowed turf was in better condition than it was this time last year as he issued his first official going description.
"It's the third winter in a row that I am telling you I wish things looked a little better out there but we are in better shape than last year," said Claisse.
"The going is a mixture of soft and good to soft. My official going description of both courses would be soft, good to soft in places, but it's pretty marginal. The cross-country course is good to soft, soft in places.
"The seven-day forecast is for the weather to remain much as it is. Frosts at night, relatively cool although the temperatures may rise during the day towards the end of the week, which might stimulate some grass growth. The GoingStick ranges from 5.9 to 6.5."
Claisse added: "The second-last fence on the Old course is now in place, having moved for the October/November meetings from the bottomof the hill to the home straight.
"For races over two miles, two and a half and four miles, there is an extra obstacle to be negotiated. Three-mile handicap chases stay the same at 19 fences. Hurdles positions will be in the sameposition as last year and nearer to the winning line than we were used to from 2009 back."
The average race value is £125,000 which he said exceeded the horsemen's tariff by £1.8 million.
Tickets will be on sale on the day for the first three days of the Cheltenham Festival but Gold Cup day is expected to sell out.
Managing director Edward Gillespie said: "Our target for attendance is 215,000 to 220,000. Ticket sales are 195,000 and closing in on our best possible target. Hospitality is also stronger than it was this time last year."
Clerk of the course Simon Claisse on Wednesday maintained that the hallowed turf was in better condition than it was this time last year as he issued his first official going description.
"It's the third winter in a row that I am telling you I wish things looked a little better out there but we are in better shape than last year," said Claisse.
"The going is a mixture of soft and good to soft. My official going description of both courses would be soft, good to soft in places, but it's pretty marginal. The cross-country course is good to soft, soft in places.
"The seven-day forecast is for the weather to remain much as it is. Frosts at night, relatively cool although the temperatures may rise during the day towards the end of the week, which might stimulate some grass growth. The GoingStick ranges from 5.9 to 6.5."
Claisse added: "The second-last fence on the Old course is now in place, having moved for the October/November meetings from the bottomof the hill to the home straight.
"For races over two miles, two and a half and four miles, there is an extra obstacle to be negotiated. Three-mile handicap chases stay the same at 19 fences. Hurdles positions will be in the sameposition as last year and nearer to the winning line than we were used to from 2009 back."
The average race value is £125,000 which he said exceeded the horsemen's tariff by £1.8 million.
Tickets will be on sale on the day for the first three days of the Cheltenham Festival but Gold Cup day is expected to sell out.
Managing director Edward Gillespie said: "Our target for attendance is 215,000 to 220,000. Ticket sales are 195,000 and closing in on our best possible target. Hospitality is also stronger than it was this time last year."
