Storm Claudia Threatening Day 2 Of Cheltenham Meeting
A precautionary examination will be held at Cheltenham tomorrow morning ahead of the scheduled seven-race Paddy Power Gold Cup card.
Strong winds and relentless rain leading produced by Storm Claudia up to the Friday of the two-day meeting continued throughout the afternoon, as conditions at the track were inevitably worsened by a day's racing on the Prestbury Park grass.
With more rain projection, officials will analyze the track at 7.30 am before the prepared 2nd afternoon of action.
"We've had 12mm of rain through the day to include to the 7mm overnight and as we have actually been racing this afternoon we have actually opened the track," clerk of the course Jon Pullin told Racing TV.
"We've still got more rain to come, possibly till midnight and we might see some heavy spells in the next couple of hours. Having opened it up it makes good sense to have an appearance in the morning.
"The forecast is stating it needs to be drying up from 1am and we do know that when this track gets a bit of a window without any rain it does begin to drain pipes and ideally that will hold true.
Racegoers in throughout Countryside Day at Cheltenham Racecourse. Forecasters have released an amber caution for rain as Storm Claudia, which was called by the Spanish meteorological service, brings heavy rainstorms and strong winds for much of the nation. throughout Countryside Day at Cheltenham Racecourse. Picture date: Friday November 14, 2025.
"This is preventive, we've raced today and we do have that dry window. I 'd be hopeful we'll be OK for tomorrow. We'll do whatever we can to make a decision as early as we can."
Navan, due to stage the Fortria Chase and with it the reappearance of Marine National, will also check at the same time due to a Status Yellow rain caution from Met Eireann.
Clerk of the course Paddy Graffin, said: "Since our ground upgrade at 7.30 am this early morning, there has actually been a more 6mm of rain at Navan.
"The ground presently remains soft to heavy, however, due to the Status Yellow rain caution from Met Eireann in location for County Meath which goes through to the early hours of tomorrow early morning, we will hold a precautionary assessment at 7.30 lead racing.
"This is a preventive measure due to the forecast but the track is presently fit for racing and the current update from Met Eireann suggests we might get roughly a more 10-15mm of rain in the location."