The risk of extreme ground resulting from a combination of watering and rainfall is always a possibility. However, racecourses (particularly those staging Jump fixtures May – September) are always strongly encouraged to irrigate to achieve the going aims specified in BHAGI 3.2 (ie Good for Jumps racing; Good to Firm for Flat racing) rather than hope to rely on the possibility of rainfall to achieve those going criteria.

BHA stipulates that watering is inadvisable within 24 hours of racing when there is a danger that rainfall could result in extreme ground in the period immediately prior to the meeting.