Big Orange (left)© Photo Healy Racing
Michael Bell faces a difficult decision over whether to let Big Orange take his chance in the Qipco Long Distance Cup at Ascot.
Having famously prevailed in the Gold Cup in June on a fast surface, conditions are likely to be much more testing on Saturday, with more rain forecast on already soft ground.
That leaves Bell in a predicament, as the formbook suggests the gallant Big Orange is nowhere near the same operator when there is cut in the ground.
"It's a bit of a headache," the Newmarket handler told Press Association Sport.
"Given the forecast and the ground is already soft, I'd say the ground is likely to be nearly heavy.
"I'd suggest we'll probably be having a team meeting on the course in the morning.
"That way we'll get to see how much more rain has fallen and how soft the ground actually is."
