The going for the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival is Heavy, Soft in places.

It was dry overnight and the forecast is for a dry day with sunny spells and temperatures of 9 to 10 Celsius.

Clerk Of The Course Simon Claisse said at 7am: "We had a dry nightand have not had any rainfall since about 1am this morning."

"The outlook is for a dry day with temperatures up to 9 or 10 degrees."

"The going on the Chase and Hurdle courses today is Heavy, Soft in places. This is the first time we have started the Festival on Heavy since 1982, with the last day to feature Heavy in the description being the Gold Cup Day in 1989."

The Stud Chase Bend has been set out six yards adding 19 yards to the distance in both the sixth and seventh races but to compensate for this the start for both races have been moved forward 23 yards.

Non-Runners

1.30pm Supreme Novices Hurdle Trainwreck (Going)

3.30pm Champion Hurdle My Tent Or Yours (Vet's Certificate - no reason) Verdana Blue (Going)

5.30pm Close Brother Novices' Handicap Chase Divine Spear (Vet's Certificate - no reason)

Wednesday

2.50pm Coral Cup

Project Bluebook (Self Certificate 0 bad scope)

Set to be replaced by first reserve Mischievious Max