Cheltenham's clerk of the course Simon Claisse is confident of ideal ground conditions for the Festival next week. 

He's upgraded the going from soft to "good to soft in places" on both old and new courses this afternoon.

"We've done quite well. We've had a relatively dry week apart from a little bit of a shower or two on Wednesday, but I'm delighted with the way the ground is walking," Claisse told ITV Racing.

"We must remember what we are racing on next week they've not set foot on, other than where the old and new courses cross, for 12 months.

"We're really pleased with it and the professionals who have been around here the last week have said likewise.

"They can't believe how much grass we've got and they can't believe how decent the going is and I've changed it from soft to change it to soft, good to soft in places on both the old and new courses.

"There could be a little rain on Monday afternoon. Beyond Tuesday it's looking like being a mainly dry week, so maybe on the new course, which always rides a bit quicker than the old, there is an outside chance it might flip round at best to good to soft, soft in places."