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Watering underway on the Grand National course at Aintree
Watering has been taking place on the Aintree Grand National course after a week of dry weather.
Watering commenced on the Randox Grand National course earlier this week following a dry week and a forecast of similar weather conditions for the next few days. Around ten millimetres were applied to the course and track officials are planning to apply 14mm to the Mildmay course in the next few days. There is a possibility that rain will arrive during the Grand National week but until then the forecast is for dry weather.
Aintree clerk of the course, Sulekha Varma, said: “We started watering this week largely to keep the grass growing as it’s been quite warm and sunny and we missed the majority of the rain that hit Cheltenham last week.
“We’ve been dry for a week now and we’re keeping an eye on the forecasts. It looks like we may have another week or so of dry weather and then we’re hoping this high pressure might break, but it’s a bit too soon to say at this point.
“A lot can change in two weeks as it can in a day in this country so we will be monitoring it closely.”
Aintree Racecourse will be welcoming spectators back to the venue for the first time since 2019, the 2020 meeting being cancelled following the outbreak of Covid-19 and the 2021 event being held behind closed doors for the same reason.
Varma continued: “There’s a good buzz about the place and the enclosure build is going really well. It’s nice to see the structures going up and plans coming together like they used to – it feels a bit like the old days.
“It will be amazing to have racegoers back for the meeting as they are the ones that make the event. While it was a special day last year, with Rachael Blackmore winning the Grand National and seeing some other brilliant performances, it just wasn’t the same without racegoers and we’re really excited about having a crowd back and having that atmosphere again.”
