Ascot officials are expected to decide on Thursday morning that its usual Flat-racing track should be used for Champions Day on Saturday, while acknowledging a distinct possibility that the going there could end up soft by race day. “I’ve just walked the outer course and it’s good, good-to-soft in places,” Chris Stickels, Ascot’s clerk of the course, said on Wednesday evening. The going on the inner track is firm, which would be unattractive to a lot of those intending to take part on Saturday. In any case, the Champions Day weather will provide a test for the hardihood of racegoers, with winds of 20mph to 30mph expected, perhaps gusting up to 50mph. “You’ve got to remember, he’s only won one race over fences, so he’s needing all the experience he can get.

Source: The Guardian October 18, 2017 18:43 UTC