Weather Watch 2025

[Bayoffreedom]

Current going: https://x.com/turftrax/status/189697...Ap9QKCXBG0j_tA

Official going Old & New: Soft (Good to Soft places), Cross Country: Soft (Heavy places). GoingStick: Chase 5.3, Hurdle 5.3, CC 4.2 on 04-03-25 at 13:00.

Interesting that the going stick was 6.1 yesterday (per BHA) and is now 5.3. Surely, they couldn't have been watering, could they?

[Prestbury]

My hunch is they know they can't water and worried about dry forecast are overstating how soft it is to avoid a bunch NRs

That thought crossed my mind too. The heavy area on the X-Country course is at the course's lowest point so I guess it is possible - if you look at the going map most of the good to soft areas on the main courses are on the higher ground, especially the back straight. However, the ground is drying pretty quickly as we have had no rain for over a week, the temperatures are high and the sun is out (it was almost t-shirt weather today). That heavy part of the XC course will stay the wettest but I would think that the rest of the course will be good to soft at best by the end of the week assuming no rain (though there are a few showers about on thur/fri.

[Prestbury]

Interesting that the going stick was 6.1 yesterday (per BHA) and is now 5.3. Surely, they couldn't have been watering, could they?

I can see the course out of my window and have been checking daily and have seen no watering going on - there's none of the equipment out either.

[Kevloaf]

Prestbury

I have given you The Weather Man - Nicholas Cage

#PraisetheCage

[Istabraq]

Fully expect the artillery to be rolled out on Friday, if those showers produce nothing/little the taps are going on.
My hope is there’s no watering past Friday as artificial irrigation can be the difference maker….

[Chelterskelter]

Seen some pictures, they already have irrigation rigs set up ready for action, but this is to be expected I suppose. Would be great to have a little bit of rain over the weekend to avoid the need for it.

[Quevega]

Genuine questions.

What difference does it make if it's watered or not ?

And I mean, how will you choose which horses will this be an advantage to or not ?
How will it help you make any decisions on betting. ?

If (watered) soft ground is not to be trusted, what would you class it as ?

Basically, what are you going to do differently to what you'd do without watering ?

Before anyone answers that the watering is not the same as rain and can be uneven in places, I understand this.

[Chelterskelter]

I personally reduce my stakes on watered ground as the inconsistency you mention creates doubt in my mind, and you occasionally get a "golden highway" type scenario where some jockeys find the better ground

[Carnage at Taunton]

Genuine questions.

What difference does it make if it's watered or not ?

And I mean, how will you choose which horses will this be an advantage to or not ?
How will it help you make any decisions on betting. ?

If (watered) soft ground is not to be trusted, what would you class it as ?

Basically, what are you going to do differently to what you'd do without watering ?

Before anyone answers that the watering is not the same as rain and can be uneven in places, I understand this.

The reason they water is to help provide safe jumping ground that the weather has failed to do.

Wont make a jot of difference to my betting, unless it rains after watering at some point, then I may look at it differently with proven soft ground performers.

[Quevega]

The reason they water is to help provide safe jumping ground that the weather has failed to do.

Wont make a jot of difference to my betting, unless it rains after watering at some point, then I may look at it differently with proven soft ground performers.

FFS cat.
I know that.
And I know people make different selections based on the official going.

Thanks Chelterskelter, I can understand that, although it would take come discipline for the festival I'd imagine.
What about antepost stuff ? I suppose you'd lay off or cash where you can ?

[Carnage at Taunton]

FFS cat.
I know that.
And I know people make different selections based on the official going.

Thanks Chelterskelter, I can understand that, although it would take come discipline for the festival I'd imagine.
What about antepost stuff ? I suppose you'd lay off or cash where you can ?

Well I knew you knew it’s obvious

But you didn’t know about my betting…..did you?

[Rooster Booster]

FFS cat.
I know that.
And I know people make different selections based on the official going.

Thanks Chelterskelter, I can understand that, although it would take come discipline for the festival I'd imagine.
What about antepost stuff ? I suppose you'd lay off or cash where you can ?

I need to report a security breach…someone has pinched Qs sign in ….its not gonna end well is it you and the weather watch thread

[Chelterskelter]

FFS cat.
I know that.
And I know people make different selections based on the official going.

Thanks Chelterskelter, I can understand that, although it would take come discipline for the festival I'd imagine.
What about antepost stuff ? I suppose you'd lay off or cash where you can ?

I'd probably say antepost forms about 20% of my total outlay, so I'd cash-out/lay a little bit, but it probably has a greater affect on my on the day betting, where i might bet 2 or 3 points on a selection, my enthusiasm is tempered.

As has been mentioned, if rain falls on watered ground it can quickly get boggy, so I'll look to change tack on my strategy significantly.

a lot of my antepost bets are placed with the thought that the ground will be genuine good to soft or soft ground, so as it stands, I'm pretty ok.

[Quevega]

I need to report a security breach…someone has pinched Qs sign in ….its not gonna end well is it you and the weather watch thread

I was trying to stay out as well.
But couldn't help myself.

We've had conspiracy theories and everything so far. But no fucking rain.

To answer the conspiracy around the difference in going stick measurements, I'd probably put it down to whether a man or woman is doing it, and how hard or soft they push it in.

There has also been sightings and erections also.

Lets hope the equipment is kept under wraps though.

[Istabraq]

This should be fairly obvious, when rain falls it covers a wide area consistently, when water is fired from a cannon 50 yards away it isn’t.
As for betting it’s unlikely you’ll ever know what side/areas got what but it’s a great excuse to use in the pub at 10pm when you went 0-7….