Dry day forecast after Wednesday's deluge The ground at Cheltenham for Thursday’s third day of the Festival meeting is described as soft, heavy in places. Officials watered drying ground on Tuesday evening, only to see relentless rain fall throughout Wednesday, turning the conditions heavy after the Queen Mother Champion Chase. No less than 21mm of rain fell throughout the day and standing water on the track caused a delay to the Champion Bumper. The first two days of Cheltenham this week took place on the Old course and the New course will host the final two days. A dry day, with highs of 12C is forecast, although that has not prevented 12 non-runners, with Nicky Henderson, who blamed the conditions for Shishkin’s defeat in the Champion Chase, responsible for four of them. They include Mister Fisher in the Ryanair Chase, Pistol Whipped and Fusil Raffles in the Craft Irish Whiskey Co Plate Handicap Chase and Janika from the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir, all on account of the ground. His leading Stayers’ Hurdle hope Champ remains in the line-up, however. Saint Calvados was withdrawn from the Ryanair Chase on Wednesday evening, meaning just seven go to post for the Grade One event.
