Newmarket escapes worst of rain

Newmarket has missed the worst of the recent rain and the Cambridgeshire meeting could start on good ground on Thursday.

Clerk of the course Michael Prosser told Racing UK on Tuesday afternoon: "The going stick readings are now 7.5 from 7.2 reflecting the fact it's been dry overnight and dry today, in fact it's a lovely day at Newmarket now, it's breezy and the sun is out. We might still get a shower or two this evening although I don't think there's anything of any consequence.

"We're more likely to get a shower tomorrow but I've been looking at the charts and models and it starts to settle down from Thursday. There's the chance of a shower on any of the next three days but from Friday and Saturday there's not an awful lot about, in fact Saturday is forecast to be dry.

"Any drying out will be slow, we actually had a frost on the deck on Saturday morning and that starts slowing things down. The days are shorter and the drying out process is much slower than in July or August. But we improved Monday to Tuesday, it's pretty much spot on good ground now.

"We have to expect a shower at some time, we can't be lucky enough to miss everything, but we could start the three-day meeting on Thursday on good or just the slow side of good ground."