Ascot Going Now Soft In Places After Heavy Rainfall Over The Last Week

Now just six days away from one of the greatest flat racing spectacles of the year and what a difference a year make with last years showpiece seeing really quick conditions for the horses being good to firm for the majority of the meeting but this year that is not the case.

12 months ago there was only 3mm of rain during the month and already 12 days into June this year there has been 65mm of rainfall that has seen the going now being described as good to soft, soft in places.

The track has reservations of getting the course back to quick and fast conditions and trying to get the going to be good for the start of the five day meeting but that can only happen if there is no more rainfall from now until Tuesday.

The Berkshire racecourse has seen 50mm of rain in the last three days which is remarkable really for the month of June but sums up English weather. The track officials are expecting at least another 13mm by Friday.

(Credit Racing Post) Clerk of the course Chris Stickels said: "It's really nice out there and I'm very pleased with it. If we were racing today I'd call it a mixture of good to soft and soft, with the softer ground being in the usual spots on the old course. It has taken [the rain] very well.

"We had 50mm from noon Sunday and we've had 65mm in total over the last seven days. Last year we had 3mm of rain in June up to the start of the meeting and it was so dry, but that was an exceptional year."

Stickels is still optimistic he can get the ground being good for the start of the Royal meeting but does admit the weather forecast is very unsettled over the next few day and anything can happen.

He added: "It's unsettled and unpredictable over the next few days.

"We are forecast up to half an inch before Friday, so we could get another 12-13mm between now and then. If we get that then it's going to keep the going on the slow side for sure. After that it looks like the low pressure system that's been causing all the problems moves away."