Weather watch on Grand National meeting

Friday 24 July 2015, 1:20pm

Victoria's final metropolitan meeting of the season at Ballarat could be in doubt if there is any more significant rain.

The Grand National Steeplechase is the highlight of the meeting on Sunday and with six flat races programmed it may also have a bearing on the outcome of the Melbourne jockeys' premiership.

The track was rated the maximum heavy 10 on Friday with Ballarat Turf Club chief executive Lachlan McKenzie describing it more as a heavy 12.

A further six millimetres of rain fell at the course on Thursday night, taking the total to 67mm in the past 12 days.

McKenzie said if forecast rain fell on Friday and Saturday he expected the meeting to go ahead, but if it was heavier than expected, the meeting could be in jeopardy.

"The track's very heavy and it's only about seven degrees here today," McKenzie told Melbourne radio station RSN.

"I've had a walk with our track manager Dillon O'Neil and if the meeting was today we would be fine.

"The track is in such a state that we could cope with some rain, but if we get much more than what is forecast then it could be in doubt."

McKenzie said Racing Victoria steward Corey Waller had inspected the track on Thursday and he expected him at Ballarat on Saturday for another inspection.

"We'll be keeping a watch on the weather and the condition of the track in conjunction with RV stewards," McKenzie said.

"But at this stage its all systems go."

– AAP

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