Soft ground for Champions Day Ascot clerk of the course Chris Stickels expects the going on QIPCO Champions Day on Saturday to be soft despite heavy rain at the Berkshire track on Tuesday night with more forecast on Wednesday. However, while Stickels reports the track to be taking the rainfall well, he conceded the ground could be heavy in places on the round course on Wednesday should there be another downpour. "We had a wet night, with 12 millimetres of rain," Stickels told At The Races on Wednesday morning. "It's a breezy day today with the occasional blustery shower. There's more of a rain band due in overnight and tomorrow morning which could deliver a reasonable amount of rain again. "If it materialises there's a chance we could be going heavy in places on the round course tomorrow morning if that wet weather does deliver a similar amount to last night. "After that though it does look to be an improving picture for Friday and Saturday. "There is still a threat of showers on Friday any maybe on Saturday. The weather on Saturday is looking quite nice at present, but the situation keeps changing. "Once the rain soaks through there's a chance it will go back to soft even if it does go heavy in places tomorrow." The Qipco Champion Stakes, featuring Frankel, is the fifth race on the card and due off at 4.05pm and the racecourse management have no intention of altering the running order. "There's fresh ground we've been saving since July. It's taken the rain. We are happy with the running order and we are not planning changing it," said Stickels.
