Epsom Water Derby Course A dry forecast for the next few days has forced Epsom to turn on the taps and water the track ahead of this weekend´s Vodafone Derby meeting. However, clerk of the course Andrew Cooper is still aiming to deliver good or slightly faster ground for the two-day fixture, which gets underway on Friday with the highlight being the Vodafone Oaks. 'We measured about half a millimetre of rain overnight and we have come in this morning taking the view that the ground, if we were racing this second, is good, good to firm in places,' Cooper told At The Races. 'We are looking overall at a very dry week and as a result of that we took the decision to recommence watering. 'It is quite light watering and I´d say we were putting on about a quarter of an inch just to keep the ground roughly where it is at the moment - if we sat back and did nothing it would be proper good to firm ground in two days time. 'We have heard what the various camps are saying but we have made it clear we are aiming that, assuming it is dry, on Friday the ground will be around good. 'As Epsom dries relatively quickly, going into Saturday we would be running the Derby on ground that was goodish or just on the fast side of good, which is objectively, what a summer Group One should be run on.' ? PA Sport
