RACING: Cheltenham clerk of the course Simon Claisse has warned that the 2009 Festival could get under way on soft ground should the forecast rain arrive ahead of tomorrow's curtain-raiser.
With blustery and wintry showers hitting the Prestbury Park circuit, conditions are now described as good to soft.
However, with a weather front due to move through tonight, officials are expecting the going to ease, before drier and brighter weather takes hold later in the week.
Claisse said: "We are experiencing showers. Monday night into Tuesday, a rain band will move through giving us five or six millimetres, so overall we are looking at up to 10 millimetres before racing starts on Tuesday.
"If we get five or six millimetres on Tuesday morning, then that could swing the ground round to soft."
Looking longer term, he added: "Wednesday will be showery, but there won't be a lot of rain in the showers. Thursday will be getting warmer with a few showers and then it will be dry on Friday with temperatures around 13 degrees."