Cheltenham not expecting further problems

Cheltenham are not expecting further unwelcome interventions from the weather for the remainder of the week after the second day of the prestigious Festival was abandoned due to high winds.

Racegoers were left shocked after managing director Edward Gillespie announced at 8.30am that the six scheduled races had been cancelled - the first time the meeting had been affected by weather since 1978.

But with the winds due to fall away overnight, officials are confident the last two days of the 2008 meeting can go ahead.

"The winds should have dropped down to about 20mph by 6pm this evening and we are expecting between one and two millimetres of rain overnight," said clerk of the course Simon Claisse.

"We might get the odd shower tomorrow and winds will be about 10-11mph. We are then forecast about three to four millimetres of rain Thursday night.

"Friday should be similar to Thursday and weather-wise we are not expecting any problems."

With 10 races to be run tomorrow - on the Old course with the New course in use on Friday - 185 horses have been declared.

Claisse is not expecting any problems with stabling though as Cheltenham have 298 boxes on site and are planning to utilise Warwick racecourse for Irish runners housed at the track ahead of Friday´s action.

Around 300 racegoers came to the track on Wednesday to make use of the Centaur facility while all tickets holders will receive a 100% refund.

Tickets for Wednesday will not be valid for any other day. Tickets will be on sale for all three enclosures for Thursday using a higher capacity of 65,000 while Friday is sold out.