Cheltenham weather forecast, going and ground conditions

It’s fair to say the weather’s been as tricky to forecast as picking the winner of the Grand National.

This season’s National Hunt calendar has been hampered by freezing conditions on both sides of the Irish Sea, while a lack of rain during the winter months has meant quicker ground than normal.

Cheltenham clerk of the course Jon Pullin described the conditions as a “challenge” and his team started watering for the Cheltenham Festival last month.

Some long-term forecasts suggested the dry weather would continue up to and including the four-day fiesta, but some welcome rain has begun to fall in the UK.

If you’re planning to have a punt on any of today’s races at the Cheltenham Festival, it’s only sensible to do plenty of research. You never know, a bit of extra cut in the ground could ruin your punt…

We’re helpful folks here at Paddy Power News so we’ve done a spot of amateur meteorology to bring you the latest weather forecast as well as the official going at Cheltenham Racecourse, which you’ll find below.

Cheltenham Going

The latest inspection on Tuesday, March 14 has the official going as Soft on the Old Course, Soft, Good to Soft (in places) on the New Course and Soft, Good to Soft (in places) on the Cross Country Course.

Cheltenham Weather Forecast

The rain continued on Monday with a further 7mm falling during the day. Tuesday has started with a light drizzle but it is expected to be mainly dry day as the meeting kicks off with seven races from 1:30pm. Incredibly, the mercury is forecast to drop below zero degrees celsius overnight into Wednesday with a spot of rain predicted for that afternoon into the evening.

Any chance of soft leaving the going description appears low as some rainfall is tipped for Thursday before the occasional light shower on Friday.

Pullin said: “Temperatures are forecast to drop to -2C overnight Tuesday into Wednesday morning but be back up to positive temperatures by 7-8am on Wednesday. We’ll keep monitoring but at this stage there are no concerns.

“Wednesday should be largely dry but then there’s a band of rain moving in and bringing showers on and off in the afternoon and through to Thursday, with volumes looking like 5-8mm through that period. Friday looks largely dry with an occasional shower.”

Cheltenham Racecard

The following seven races take place at Cheltenham on Tuesday, March 14:

1:30:Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1)
2:10:Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices’ Chase (Grade 1)
2:50:Ultima Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap)
3:30:Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy (Grade 1)
4:10:Mares’ Hurdle (Grade 1)
4:50:Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap)
5:30:National Hunt Challenge Cup Amateur Jockeys’ Novices’ Chase (Grade 2)

Cheltenham Tips

Paddy Power News is the home of top tips and best bets for the 2023 Cheltenham Festival. Our superstar stable of pundits includes Ruby Walsh, the most successful jockey in the history of the Cheltenham Festival. We’ve also got exclusive columns from the likes of ITV Racing expert Matt Chapman, former jockey Mick Fitzgerald and shrewd tipster Rory Delargy.