Cheltenham weather forecast

[charlie]

First 3 days of Cheltenham to be wet according to BBC long range weather forecast.

I wouldn't pay a forecast of 7 days + a blind bit of notice. The weather changes quickly and they are wrong all the time.

[Faugheen_Machine]

I wouldn't pay a forecast of 7 days + a blind bit of notice. The weather changes quickly and they are wrong all the time.

Especially a BBC forecast. They're useless.

[Robbante]

Accuweather the one I trust more than any other, that has the festival itself as largely dry... https://m.accuweather.com/en/gb/chel...orecast/328267

[Leman14]

Accuweather the one I trust more than any other, that has the festival itself as largely dry... https://m.accuweather.com/en/gb/chel...orecast/328267

I like it already!

[Bigfish]

Accuweather the one I trust more than any other, that has the festival itself as largely dry... https://m.accuweather.com/en/gb/chel...orecast/328267

They predicted this weather were having about a month ago I noted at the time. They also forecast rain for the 4 days of the Fez about the same time . Wish my ante post bets were so accurate. Forget any picks that need good ground to give their best.

[Can't Catch Me]

Forget any picks that need good ground to give their best.

I dont understand why people keep saying this? The ground was G/S before the snow arrived. The snowfall is comparable to light rain. There isnt much rain forecast for the next ten days? I cant see any reason it will be any softer than G/S myself.

[giantchelsea]

Just how much will the current bad weather impact on a horses prep for the Festival? Will it be little more than a nuisance because most of the big boys have some sort of all weather gallop or is it something thing that needs to be taken into account when making our selections?

Any of the major training centres escaped relatively unscathed?

[Bayoffreedom]

I dont understand why people keep saying this? The ground was G/S before the snow arrived. The snowfall is comparable to light rain. There isnt much rain forecast for the next ten days? I cant see any reason it will be any softer than G/S myself.

I agree with this. Being an enforced snow expert ( based in Boston MA where we often get 100+ inches in winter) the normal rule of thumb is 5 inches of snow (what they said they had**) equals half an inch of rain. Looking at the photos it seems that most of the snow on the course was light and was easily blown around creating the drifts. If that's the case I doubt the actual effect on the course would be much more than the equivalent of 1/3rd of an inch; that could easily be absorbed over the next week and a half.

**No less an authority than the The Sun reported only three inches of snow

[TCH29]

Part of the issue could be that Claisse had talked (a week or two back) about wanting it to warmup to help the grass grow on the course. That certainly hasn't happened. An there is a bit of rain forecast next week. So there's a chance the grass covering may not be perfect to receive that rain...creating that gluey sort of soft.

[Bayoffreedom]

Part of the issue could be that Claisse had talked (a week or two back) about wanting it to warmup to help the grass grow on the course. That certainly hasn't happened. An there is a bit of rain forecast next week. So there's a chance the grass covering may not be perfect to receive that rain...creating that gluey sort of soft.

A very fair point. Hopefully, the fact that it had dried out to good to soft, good in places with poor grass growth conditions provides some hope it may 'bounce back' from the snow and cold. I always hope for good ground at the Festival but, after this week, am just relieved it's going to go ahead and will happily take any ground conditions.

[Istabraq]

Part of the issue could be that Claisse had talked (a week or two back) about wanting it to warmup to help the grass grow on the course. That certainly hasn't happened. An there is a bit of rain forecast next week. So there's a chance the grass covering may not be perfect to receive that rain...creating that gluey sort of soft.

Agree it could be an issue but the festival is run on entirely fresh ground not used since the previous festival so the ground has repaired and grown back plenty enough...

[somer1]

And the big melt has started down ere

[Can't Catch Me]

Looks back to normal by Monday

[BigChaang]

How's it looking in Cheltenham Nick ?

[Nick1976]

We had a sprinkling of snow yesterday and snow is pretty deep underfoot. All the buses and trains into Cheltenham have been cancelled so still pretty bad.
Forecast for next couple of days is for the temperature to slowly rise above freezing so hopefully the big melt should start.