Cheltenham Going: Interview with clerk of the course Simon Claisse

/ Mike Vince / 05 March 2010 / 1 Comments

Mike Vince travelled to Cheltenham to talk with Clerk, Simon Claisse, who revealed the work his team have put in over one of the most testing winters in history

The Cheltenham ground is a mixture of Good to Soft and Soft with little more than a week to go to the Festival, with Clerk of the Course Simon Claisse issuing more upbeat bulletins after what he says has been; "The most challenging winter any of us working here can remember."

His aim for March 16 remains unchanged - ground on the easy side of Good for Day One and he has again reiterated: "If we have to water to ensure that we will do so."

For Claisse, Head Groundsman Tony Howland and their team, it's almost been a case of playing catch up after Mother Nature and her unwelcome accomplice Jack Frost dealt Cheltenham an unwanted hand at the start of the year.

Claisse confirmed: "It's been the coldest winter for 31 years but now it is all pulling together. We could not get onto the course for the basic remedial work until last week because it was either too wet or too frozen, and a fortnight of snow set the grass back.

"It's not been just us though, so many sporting venues have had similar problems. We have the advantage that the ground to be used at The Festival has been preserved all winter and not used since last Spring. It's fresh on both Old and New courses and in addition we have 6-8 yards on the New Chase course which we don't use until the Gold Cup itself."

So what of the situation between now and the entry of the cavalry when the Spinal Research Supreme Novices' Hurdle gets the curtain up at 1.30pm a week on Tuesday?

"Condtions are forecast to be predominately settled," says Claisse, "and if that's right by about Monday or Tuesday there will be plenty of Good Ground out there. If it then looks like remaining dry we cannot rule out watering as we did with the New Course last year."

Claisse admits the worst nightmare would be no rain until Festival eve which would make him in one of those near impossible positions, especially with four days to come. " The last thing I want is to say on the first morning, Why did I not water? If forecast rain fails to materialise," he said.

The score this winter is Claisse 2 The Weather 0, after he and his team beat the elements, albeit on one occasion only just, to stage their two January fixtures. Now he wants the Almighty as his ally as he, like everyone else at Cheltenham, eagerly anticipates the four days and the Gold Cup showdown.

"The humble Clerks view is the softer the ground the more it will suit Denman, but I hope nature will settle the ground and we will not have to get involved," says Claisse with obvious relish.

Everyone involved in racing knows that's the preferred option but Claisse is stressing he will water if he has to.

And after the winter Cheltenham like the rest of us have had, would any of us want to second guess anything about what the next few days has in store?


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Comments (1)

1. emsquared | 05 March 2010

   '"Condtions are forecast to be predominately settled," says Claisse, "and if that's right by about Monday or Tuesday there will be plenty of Good Ground out there. If it then looks like remaining dry we cannot rule out watering as we did with the New Course last year."...
   ..."The humble Clerks view is the softer the ground the more it will suit Denman, but I hope nature will settle the ground and we will not have to get involved," says Claisse with obvious relish.'

   How can he say he hopes nature will settle the ground but he will 'get involved' if it does not suit Denman?