Fast Ground At Newmarket After a dry, sunny weekend, the going on the Rowley Mile ahead of the £1-million UltimatePoker.com Guineas Festival on Saturday and Sunday is GOOD-TO-FIRM, FIRM IN PLACES. The firm parts are between the one and a half furlong and three furlong markers and between the one and a half mile and two mile starts.Whilst more than half an inch of rain is forecast for the coming week, Clerk of the Course, Michael Prosser expects the ground to take that amount of rain well. After walking the course this morning (Sunday), he said:'It is certainly quick out there, but there is a fantastic cover of grass on ground that we haven´t raced on since October 30 last year. We could get a lot of rain this week but, after such a dry spring in East Anglia, the course will take it very well and I would still expect good, fast ground for Britain´s first two Classics even if all the forecast rain materialises.'Monday is expected to be predominantly dry, but rain is set to sweep into the area on Tuesday. Sunshine and showers are forecast for Wednesday with much heavier rain to follow on Thursday. It is expected to clear up by the weekend but, with that kind of forecast, watering is obviously out of the question.'Over 10,000 tickets have been sold already for the most important race meeting of the year at the Home of Racing, when one colt and one filly will emerge from the £320,000 UltimatePoker.com 2000 Guineas on Saturday and the £320,000 UltimatePoker.com 1000 Guineas on Sunday with a first taste of Classic glory.
