Largely Drying Day Leaves Good Guineas Ground at Newmarket
01/05/08

Michael Prosser, Director of Racing at Newmarket, has this afternoon changed The NatWest Rowley Mile official going description after an upturn in the weather.

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There was significant rain on the track on Tuesday and Wednesday but a largely drying day today has seen the ground begin to dry out.

Having walked the course, Prosser said: "Although we had 1millimetre of rain about 2pm, it has been breezy and warmer than for the past two days and consequently the ground has dried out since yesterday.

"The going-stick reading is now 8.3 (from 7.8 yesterday) and I have now changed the official going description to good (from good, good-to-soft in places).

"There are due to be showers around until 8pm this evening and it promises to be dry overnight. But there are showers around tomorrow, although they are forecast to be less prevalent than they have been in the past 48 hours and we are only looking at 1-3mms.

"On Saturday, the forecast is for it to stay dry with sunny spells and temperatures of up to 18 degrees centigrade. Sunday will see temperatures rise to 20 degrees but there is a threat of thundery showers late in the afternoon, early evening."

Prosser also revealed his delight at the strength of the field - totalling 15 horses - scheduled to line up at 3.25pm on Saturday for the stanjamesuk.com 2000 Guineas (The 200th Running).

He said: "It looks to be a top-quality renewal and what is most significant is that last season's principal two-year-old races for colts are all represented.

"Our Darley Dewhurst Stakes winner and Europe's champion two-year-old New Approach will make a formidable opponent but there is a string of classy opponents who will contribute to making the 200th running of the stanjamesuk.com 2000 Guineas a race to savour."