Soft Ground Expected At Ascot
- Monday, 14 October 2013 00:59
Ground conditions are expected to be on the soft side for the showpiece British Champions day at Ascot on Saturday.
Bookmakers have reacted by firming French star and wet track specialist Cirrus Des Aigles from 9-4 to 7-4 for the Champion Stakes.
Clerk of the course Chris Stickels described the going as good to soft, soft in places after he walked the track on Sunday.
The course has already absorbed 16mm of rain since Thursday and the forecast for the week is an unsettled one.
"It's a mixture of good to soft and soft today. We've had eight millimetres so far and it's still raining at the minute," Stickels said.
"It's a bit of an unsettled forecast for the week.
"It's a bit early to be sure yet, but it looks like showers are due next weekend again."
The prospect of soft ground is not good news for Aidan O'Brien who may now have to reroute Declaration Of War to the Breeders' Cup.
"The horse who won at Dundalk on Friday night (Giovanni Boldini) could go for the Breeders' Cup, and he's still in the Racing Post Trophy," O'Brien said.
"Australia is finished and most of the rest of them are finished now.
"Declaration Of War will run in one of the two races next week if the ground is good, otherwise he will go to America.
"Darwin could drop back six furlongs next week, we have Camelot in there and Kingsbarns in there too."
