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Use of inner course at Ascot likely if rain continues

3 minute read

With concerns regarding the forecast for the rest of the week, Ascot could make use of the inner course rather than the round course for Champions Day on Saturday.

Royal Ascot 2023 at Ascot Racecourse. Picture: Getty Images

Although Ascot is not expected to experience any rain until Wednesday, the ground is currently soft and consistent wet conditions are anticipated for the latter part of the week.

This would affect three races – the British Champions Stakes, the Long-Distance Cup and the Fillies & Mares Stakes.

"At the moment, we are soft, and we've got a couple of fine days forecast today and tomorrow up until Wednesday afternoon and then we're due to get rain/showers from Wednesday afternoon all the way through to racing," said the clerk of the course Chris Stickles.

"Around 15-20mm is kind of the predicted amount in total from Wednesday through to Saturday but that could change.

"That would be highly likely to prompt a change to the inner track. The race conditions at the moment state that if heavy features in the going description on the round course, then races will move to the inner track.

"So that is potentially on the cards and if we had that volume of rain then I would imagine we would be talking about some heavy ground on the round course and therefore those round course races could move to the inner track.

"Of course, we're not there yet, we're only soft ground and we haven't had any rain since Friday. But if we did get that amount, there is the potential."