York clerk of the course William Derby reports the ground to be on the quick side as the track prepares to open its doors for the Ebor meeting.
The four-day Festival kicks off with Sea The Stars and Mastercraftsman headlining a four-runner field for the Juddmonte International. The former, winner of the 2000 Guineas, Derby and Eclipse this season, can expect his favoured fast going.
Derby said: "We're currently good to firm. We just had one millimetre of rain at 4am on Monday. It's forecast to be largely dry, with temperatures of around 19 degrees on Tuesday and 22 on Wednesday."
He added: "There's no rain forecast for the next few days, but there is a band that could move in on Thursday."
The International is the feature event on the opening day, but there is plenty more to look forward to during the week with the totesport Ebor on Wednesday, the Darley Yorkshire Oaks on Thursday and Friday's Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes.
Derby added: "We're obviously very excited about the week ahead and the prospect of the highest-rated horse in the world (Sea The Stars) running here at our flagship meeting.
"Sea The Stars running is a highlight but it's great to see Mastercraftsman, a multiple Group One winner himself, in there as well. Sariska on Thursday would be another highlight as she is due to take on the older fillies, including Dar Re Mi, who won a Group One last time out."
Much has been made on the impact the current tough economic climate is having on the sport, but Derby issued an upbeat bulletin on advance sales for the meeting and is anticipating few negative effects.
"We have worked really hard on offering a good value day out and we're very lucky in that the people in the sport have been fantastic," he added.
"We've achieved good crowd numbers for our 10 racedays so far this year and hopefully that will continue."
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