Rain hammers Cheltenham with cars stuck in mud as nearly 70,000 punters brave the elements on day one of the Festival
RAIN caused chaos at Cheltenham ahead of the first day of racing with cars getting stuck in mud and the course becoming covered in puddles.
Almost 70,000 punters will brave the awful weather to take in seven races on the first day of the Festival.
Poor commentator Hunt got his car stuck in the mud just 200m from the main entrance to the track
SplashPunters will be wrapped up against the elements on day one of Cheltenham[/caption]
But racing commentator John Hunt got off to a shocker when he posted a photo showing his car stuck in mud ‘200m from the main entrance’.
Already it looks like one race tomorrow could be lost, with an inspection called on the Cross Country Course for 8am.
If the saturated track is not fit to race then that contest will be moved to Friday.
Trainer Syd Hosie took a video of himself walking the track before the first race – the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle – at 1.30pm.
He was kicking up water as he walked up the home straight, the standing water clear to see.
It means the soaking ground could throw up some freaky results with horses who revel in the mud coming to the fore.
Sun Racing picked out five horses who should relish the mud – while Templegate provided his tips for day one here.
Former Grand National winner and ITV Racing pundit Mick Fitzgerald also posted a video of the track looking back towards the huge grandstand.
Digging his heel into the turf to show the give in the grass, he wrote: “Soft as it has been on the opening day for some time!”
More to follow.
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