Q: How difficult has it been to maintain the racing surface this season?

This season we have recorded the slowest times since I came here in 1999. That was on Festival Trials Day (January 30th) when we had to call a morning inspection.

It should be noted that 90% of the festival ground on both the old and new courses has not been raced on since last year. That is why we can provide decent ground every March.

I don’t have exact rainfall figures for this winter but the most significant rain we have had was the 25ml we had last Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. That left us ‘soft’ on all courses but the forecast is for mainly dry and milder weather from now on.

We will start the festival on ‘good to soft, soft in places’ or the other way around. The temperature is due to rise to 12-13 degrees next week and I keep reminding people of 2007 when we went from soft to good in the course of the meeting.

Q: What hours will you keep each day next week?

Normally I get to the racecourse between 5am and 5.15am, to meet with our head groundsman. In 2013 I woke at 3.15pm to see it was -12 degrees outside, so I was on track by 4.30am!

Depending on how the day goes, I would consider myself lucky to get away by 8.30pm. I live 12 miles away in Naunton, opposite Nigel Twiston-Davies.

After racing I like to talk to the medical teams, jockeys and trainers. I never socialise during the festival. My predecessor in this job warned me not to – I did it once and I regretted it. I’ll be in bed by 9.45pm each night.

Q: Do you get a chance to watch the races on the day?

I watch all the races from a position on the fourth level of the old stand, from where I can manage what’s going on out there. I have to contain my excitement as I’m also watching for stricken horses and jockeys.

Q: What track work is typically carried out after racing each day of the festival? How many staff are involved?

We have about 50 ‘treaders’ who are carrying out repair work throughout the afternoon, replacing divots by hand and fork. They do a certain amount before it gets dark. I will walk parts of the track but I prefer to leave decisions on rail movements until the next morning.

Q: Away from the track itself, what other duties do you have in your role?

The clerk’s role here is fundamentally different to that in Ireland. I am responsible for the entire racing function – the programme, the prize money, looking after owners and trainers, tickets, hospitality, stabling and stablestaff.

Q: What challenges are presented by the large amount of Irish runners at the meeting?

I have a brilliant team around me and rely on them. The stable manager John Morrison has already been in touch with all the Irish trainers, establishing their requirements.

It amazes me how the Irish trainers plan their raids. Gordon Elliott will have over 25 runners and Willie Mullins 60 – the organisation and logistics take a lot of work.

Q: Where do you get your weather forecasts from and how accurate are they?

We have been using retired BBC forecaster John Kettley for 15 years.

He has a great interest in racing and he understands the quirky nature of the Prestbury microclimate.

But even he will admit his forecasts are only 65% accurate, which leave a lot of room for error. Beyond two-to-three days the accuracy tails off. This winter the volatility of the weather has shocked us.

Q: What is your biggest worry ahead of next week?

There is nothing more we can do! We have set the stage. We await the players.

Q: And finally what is your best bet for Cheltenham next week?

I was very impressed with Camping Ground when he won the Relkeel Hurdle here in January. If the ground comes up easy here on Tuesday I would fancy him each-way in the Champion Hurdle.