Exeter and Wincanton expect to provide a good field in their major fixtures broadcast on ITV4 on Friday and Saturday as they face the challenge of dry weather.

THE Betting on the MGM Haldon Gold Cup is the feature race at Exeter on Friday, with the terrestrial channel broadcasting four races on the programme.

There is the chance of 2-3mm of rain on Thursday and light showers on race day, with race director Jason Loosemore hoping they will arrive to help maintain the good description.

Ground staff have been verti-draining areas where it dries a little quicker on the Devon track, including the climb into the back straight and from the penultimate fence to the winning line in the last straight line.

Loosemore said on Sunday: “We had a wet afternoon yesterday and the following days the starts are quite misty and misty. There is a weak front passing through from Wednesday which could give us a rainy day on Thursday and intermittent drizzle on Friday, so I’m hoping this will be a good pitch.

“We won’t be any easier than good unless the forecast takes a significant turn. The ground has only dried slowly over the last ten days, but I would still have liked a few light showers to keep it fresh.

Blackjack Magic (left): won the Badger Beer Handicap Chase at Wincanton last yearCredit: Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images

Wincanton racing director Tom Ryall expects to water at some point this week to maintain a good field for Saturday’s card which includes the Badger Beer Handicap Chase, the Elite Hurdle and the Boodles Rising Stars Novices’ Chase.

Ryall said: “We had a few dry days but they didn’t dry out the ground. There is moisture in the ground and there could be some rain later in the week.

“It’s more than likely we’ll need to water at some point this week to maintain good soil – this will just be to replace any moisture lost from above and I don’t foresee us going crazy with watering and having to do that. every day.”

The situation was described as good, good to firm on the chase course for Sunday’s Sandown meeting, with a watering process in place in an effort to provide good ground.

It was good to relax on the hurdles course – the same course used for the flat during the summer – and a third consecutive dry week is planned on the Esher track.

Race director Andrew Cooper said: “We haven’t needed to water the hurdles course, but we have watered the chase course for the last two weeks and plan to do so daily this week.

“It’s the fast side of good in the second half of the back straight, and the obvious scenario is that it won’t be any easier than good given the dry forecast.”

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