Cheltenham expects good to soft at weekend despite deluge wreaking havoc in UK

Torrential rain has caused chaos up and down Britain but Cheltenham clerk of the course Simon Claisse hopes Saturday's BetVictor Gold Cup will be run on no worse than good to soft ground as the course prepares for its three-day November meeting, beginning on Friday.

Doncaster was forced to cancel the November Handicap card on Saturday because of flooding, while Stratford on Monday also succumbed to a waterlogged track.

Cheltenham's Showcase meeting at the end of October finished on heavy ground following a deluge, but Claisse is hopeful of a different result later this week, with mostly dry conditions forecast ahead of the valuable three days, which on Sunday features the Grade 2 Shloer Chase and Grade 3 Greatwood Hurdle.

Claisse said: "The forecast this morning has reined back on the quantity of rain that we can expect between now and racing. By and large, with the exception of a band of rain that's coming through on Wednesday, it's a predominantly dry week with the odd shower.

"Things are looking more settled and I would think we'll take the rain on Wednesday in the same way we took the rain on Saturday overnight into Sunday. We may end up going soft on Thursday, depending on what volume we get.

"On Friday, Saturday and Sunday it looks mostly dry so at this stage we'll predominantly be good to soft ground for racing."

On Sunday, the third-last fence at Sandown had to be omitted because of a low sun, while three fences were removed for the Old Roan Chase at Aintree last month for the same reason.

On the threat of low sun causing fences to be omitted, Claisse added: "Our experience has shown that ever since we made the changes from the outset of the 2007 season that we would not run chases in vulnerable period because there are more fences than hurdles in the home straight, it seems to have worked for us.

"I would be surprised if we had a vulnerability that we haven't had before."

No chases are scheduled to start over the regular course after 2.25pm on any of the three days.

Cheltenham Friday

Cheltenham Saturday

Cheltenham Sunday

For the freshest betting advice, based on latest going and market conditions, don't miss the Live Tipster every afternoon. Just click Raceday Live at racingpost.com or the mobile app