Wincanton are hopeful of being able to race on Thursday despite feeling it prudent to call a second precautionary inspection at 8am.

The course was passed fit following a lunchtime inspection on Wednesday despite 15 millimetres of rain overnight and on Wednesday morning. However, more rain is forecast in the morning which could still threaten the all-chase card.

"We have passed our 12.30pm inspection. The course is raceable. There is a bit of standing water now, but nothing to worry about, they can race through it," said clerk of the course Barry Johnson.

"We are going to have another inspection at 8am in line of the forecast. It's dry and windy now, but there is a band of rain due to come through tomorrow morning, about two to three millimetres. I'm just being cautious because if we get more than that we'd be in trouble, but we are very hopeful."

Officials at Chepstow have also called an inspection for 8am on Thursday ahead of the meeting planned for Friday. The ground is currently heavy, waterlogged in places.

Clerk of the course Keith Ottesen said: "We had an enormous amount of rain, we were forecast 12-15 millimetres for Tuesday but in a 24-hour period we had 47 millimetres, and either side of that we've had 10 millimetres, so that's more than two inches in just over 36 hours.

"It was torrential almost all of Tuesday and including the snow melt we've had over 100 millimetres since Friday, hence at this time of year, with quite a worn track, it's not in good shape.

"Ironically the skies have cleared now, we're forecast a lit bit of rain but although Friday's forecast is uncertain it's looking like heavy rain from midnight on Thursday. Basically we really don't need another drop to give us a chance of racing and we can't be too optimistic, but we'll assess things at the inspection."

18 June 2013

Stevens is king of the Castle
O'Neill ace proves too sharp
Ballydoyle in command in Coventry
Dawn delivers in thriller
Sole powers to sprint glory
Al Thani snaps up Sandiva
O'Brien sounds War cry
Minute's silence remembers Cecil
Duntle on Cambridge duty
Alive and Just in Ribblesdale mix
Passage heads Gold field
Deegan considers Soprano options
Toro out for Palace glory
Cecil's words not lost on Ponsonby
Dawn out for Palace redemption
Hawkwood supplemented for Hardwicke
Flotilla To Drop Back In Trip
Cecil's Chigun in Cambridge action
Al Kazeem and Camelot clash again
De Kock hoping to make history
War ready for Royal Ascot battle
Kingdom set to reign over Ascot

17 June 2013

Magician set for Palace showdown
Cat clings on for Carroll
Three more winners for Lady Cecil
Monaghan delivers on Midnight
Treve in stunning Diane win
Sapphire target for Trees
Beckett mulls Secret options
Nicholls has broken wrist

16 June 2013

Songbird aiming to fly high
Movie has Newmarket on radar
Fahey juveniles primed for action
Stubbs leads O'Brien Coventry team
Salsify on summer break
Kempton target for Benbulben
Top trio head Palace runners
Shea Shea shoots for Stand glory
Animal heads Queen Anne field
Saint-Cloud aim for Dunaden
Magician to be declared for Palace
Soul all heart in York sprint
Kingsgate rules Musselburgh
Sam too sharp for rivals
Hughes makes it pay with Knight
Balding on mark with double
Morawij in a hurry in Scurry
Bartley is queen for a day
Big guns to clash in Coronation

15 June 2013

Marengo set for battle royal
Saddler's ready to rock - Oxx
Soprano primed to hit right notes
Balding receives OBE
Victory on a plate for Montaser
Magician run in the balance
Secret set to make Ascot stand
Probert return delayed
Nagle covers Maarek options
Ribblesdale chance for Lark
Walker hoping Guns will fire
Estimate in Royal Gold run