Ascot Clerk Uncertain On Official Ground Ahead Of Champions Day

James Mackie | @JMackieRacing

Ascot Ground

Ascot's clerk of the course Chris Stickles has stated that the ever confusing weather forecasts are making it very difficult to predict what the ground will be come Saturday leaving ante-post punters up in the air.

Stickels believes the going is likely to remain "on the easy side" ahead of the tracks most sort after event of the season with the potential rain that was set to fall on Thursday now not likely to be as much as first thought.

(Credit Racing Post) "It's become a bit more confusing and there are forecasts now suggesting that we're not going to get quite as much rain on Thursday," Stickels said.

"It's not a particularly clear picture at the moment. There is less certainty over Thursday. We might see a few showers on Friday night into Saturday but the picture is very unclear."

Stickels added: "I'm now seeing forecasts with less rain for Thursday with that band of rain moving through more to the south of us and just clipping us a little bit.

"We've had a lovely day today and there could possibly be some good ground in the going description on Wednesday or Thursday if it doesn't rain first thing Thursday. If we get half the amount we were forecast then good to soft would be very likely."

"It is crystal ball gazing in terms of how much we get and therefore whether there will be good to soft, soft in places or, if we don't get very much at all, good in places. It's still likely to be on the easy side."

Flat racing's richest day in Britain signals the end of the flat season for many for another year with four lots of Group One action, a Group Two and also the prestigious Balmoral Handicap.