The final day of the Cheltenham festival is upon us and after three superb days of racing the feature contest is finally here with this years Magners Gold Cup set to be one of the most competitive we have seen for some time.
However, there is some interesting news that has seen the going of the ground change for the the final day with high winds throughout the evening and in the morning drying the turf out.
The official going now for the Gold Cup is likely to be good to soft, which has rapidly changed from the start of the week where the Supreme Novices Hurdle was ran on soft, heavy in places.
This will certainly play to the strengths of many horses in todays field like Clan Des Obeaux and Might bite but for he favourites at the top of the market it can only be seen as a negative.
Presenting Percy is yet to have a run over fences this season but looks to be the horse that will go off favourite for the Gold Cup and he will dislike the ground change with soft his preferable surface.
Another gelding that this ground won't be perfect for is last year's winner Native River for Colin Tizzard who won the Gold Cup in muddy and wet terrain and it looks like he will not have the same this year.
Cheltenham are forecasted showers this morning but the wind picking up throughout the day it should not see much of a change to proceedings.
(Credit Racing Post) Clerk of the course Simon Claisse said:"It is a breezy start but it has been dry overnight and the going on the hurdles and chase courses remains good to soft.
"If this wind keeps going and we don't get to see any rain then we expect to see good in that going description before racing starts."
A little strip of fresh ground is set to be deployed on the inside of the track in preparation for this going change. Thursday's ground was good to soft, soft in places but now it is just solely good to soft.
With conditions ever developing throughout the day it is possible the ground conditions could take a slight change but from what is forecasted it does not look likely.