Good ground expected for opening day of the Showcase meeting as Cheltenham kicks off its season

Friday's meeting at Cheltenham has needed to have had water applied to it ahead of the track kicking off its season.

The two-day Showcase meeting will be start on good ground with clerk of the course Jon Pullin expecting a dry couple of days. Friday's seven-race card begins at 1.15 with the Grade 2 novice hurdle (3.00) the feature.

Speaking on Thursday afternoon, Pullin said: "The ground is on the easy side of good and we selectively watered yesterday and finished that off this morning.

"We put some down on the areas which had started to tighten up a little bit. We had over 200 millimetres of rain in September and nearly 80 millimetres this month, but we've been dry since Sunday.

"We might get the odd light shower in the early hours, but nothing too measurable – maybe a millimetre or two at most – and then we're dry from there through racing Friday and Saturday."

Doncaster's two-day meeting, headlined by the William Hill Futurity Trophy on Saturday, is set to begin on soft ground after a dry spell since the weekend.

Read our Cheltenham preview package:

1.50 Cheltenham: 'He's run some cracking races and has plenty of experience' - can Path D'Oroux finally open his account over fences?  

2.25 Cheltenham: 'She has a very bright future' - who rates his chances highly in the handicap chase?  

3.00 Cheltenham: Can Gale Mahler continue her remarkable run or will a short break have stalled her progress?  

3.35 Cheltenham: 'We go there very hopeful' - key quotes and analysis for the amateur riders' handicap chase    

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