Wet weather fears for Ascot Gold Cup hat-trick seeker Stradivarius have materialised after 11mm of rain hit the track overnight.
Frankie Dettori's big race mount, the winner of the meeting's feature in 2018 and 2019, is drifting in the betting after the ground turned good to soft.
Trainer John Gosden said on Wednesday he did not want much more rain for his star stayer, a six-year-old who has finished first in 14 of his 21 starts.
The BHA's official weather update said: "11mm rain since racing Wednesday to 8.15am Thursday, still raining at 8.15am. Further showers forecast for Thursday."
A Met Office yellow weather warning for thunderstorms also lingers over most UK locations south from Manchester.
After being a much shorter price yesterday, Stradivarius is now out to as big as 5/6f.
In his £2.5 million big race haul, he won the 2019 renewal of Thursday's feature on soft going, as well as the previous year's Qipco British Champions Long Distance Cup.
Connections feel Stradivarius is a better horse when the ground is quicker, although race fitness won't be an issue after his recent third in the Hurworth Bloodstock Coronation Cup at Newmarket.
Punters are getting behind mudlover Technician in the 2m 4f contest at 3.35pm.
Martyn Meade's racer won a Group One on heavy going last season and is expected to flourish if conditions deteriorate further.
Champion jockey Oisin Murphy, off the mark for the week yesterday on Silver Royal Hunt Cup hero Sir Busker, will be in the saddle.
Race times remain the same for day three of the meeting, with the first of seven programmed for 1.15pm and the finale at 4.40pm.
