Articles - Wednesday, April 8, 2009 12:10 - 1 Comment

All-Weather Racing Guide

Love them or hate them all-weather racing make up for around a third of all races in the UK. With more races contested on the artificial surface than ever before it is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore the all-weather courses. Especially when the cold weather kicks in and causes un-told disruption to the turf calendar, can we really afford to ignore the poly-track or fibre sand anymore. For those Punter who have yet to be enticed by its intricacies, here is a brief guide to the courses, trainers, jockeys and horses to keep an eye on.

THE FIVE COURSES

Great Leighs
Address: near Chelmsford, Essex
The newest all-weather track, but shaping up to be one of the fairest. Left-handed, flat with sweeping bends and a wide straight, it does not appear to strongly favour any type of running style and has so far lived up to its aim of provided some quality action amid the usual all-weather fare. Those drawn low have had a slight advantage over five and six furlongs.

Kempton Park
Address: Sunbury on Thames, Middlesex
The only right-handed all-weather track. Races over five furlongs and 1 1/4 miles are run on an inner circuit, with those drawn high being strongly favoured. Over all other distances, the draw plays a much lesser role, but the ability to race close to the pace is an advantage as those held up often struggle to land a blow.

Lingfield Park
Address: Lingfield, Surrey
The hardest all-weather track to make the running on. While many races here are run at a slow early pace - which should favour front-runners - the downhill stretch into the final bend seems to draw jockeys into going for home too soon. Hold-up horses with a good turn of foot are ideal here, while the more patient riders excel, with George Baker being a prime example.

Southwell
Address: Rolleston, near Newark, Nottinghamshire
The only course with a Fibresand surface - the others are all Polytrack - and much the worst for punting. This is partly because of the amount of kickback, which makes it hard for horses to make up ground from the back, but also because the state of the course seems to vary more than the other all-weather tracks depending on how deeply it is harrowed. In recent times, the centre of the course has been the place to be, so those drawn high on the round course have been favoured, while on the straight five-furlong course a low draw is an advantage, although a change in track management could quickly change this.

Wolverhampton
Address: Dunstall Park, Wolverhampton, West Midlands
Meetings here seem to be far more akin to racing on turf, as there is usually an even early pace and it seems equally possible to make the running or to come from behind. The draw is most important over five furlongs and seven furlongs, as there is a bend soon after the start at each distance. Races over six furlongs start from a shoot and the draw has much less effect than many think.

HORSES TO FOLLOW

Newlyn Art
Has been raised a further 9lb for his impressive success at Lingfield at the end of December, but is improving at such a rate that he should be able to defy his new mark. One to keep on the right side when running at Lingfield, Great Leighs and Wolverhampton.

Thefillyfromepsom
Shaped well when fifth at 100-1 on her debut at Lingfield and may well not have recovered from those exertions when below that form at Kempton just five days later. Needs one more run to qualify for a handicap mark and may be interesting off a lowly mark in that sphere.

Strike Force
Went far too wide around the home turn when second at Wolverhampton in December and then raced too keenly under an inexperienced apprentice at Lingfield. Can win off his present mark given a more experienced rider over an extended mile or nine furlongs at Wolverhampton.

Clerk’s Choice
Unsuited by a slow early pace when runner-up at Lingfield in December, he then seemed to find the slower testing his stamina when third at Southwell. A strongly-run race over a mile at Lingfield or Wolverhampton should suit ideally.

Murrin
Signalled a return to form when sixth at Lingfield in December, racing too keenly for his own good in a slowly run race but still staying on well. Now 2lb lower than his last winning mark, he should strike soon given a stronger pace either at Lingfield or Wolverhampton.

TRAINERS TO FOLLOW

Mark Johnston
Given that his horses are renowned for their game front-running tactics, it is no surprise that Southwell provides the most profit for punters backing his horses on the all-weather, while you would show a massive loss backing his runners at Lingfield.

Andrew Balding
An excellent trainer, but seems to save his best all-weather runners for Kempton, as that is the only track that he has shown a profit at over the past five years.

John Gosden
Generally operates at a higher level, but his runners at Kempton and Southwell are always to be respected, while he has also made a bright start at Great Leighs.

Ian Semple
Has had a torrid time of late, through no fault of his own, but this shrewd operator has recently taken up his licence again and his all-weather runners have to be respected. Has brought his backers consistent profit at Lingfield, Southwell and Wolverhampton.

Kevin Ryan
Seems to save his best all-weather runners for Lingfield, as his strike-rate there is much better than elsewhere and that is the only track where backing all of his runners would have yielded a profit in the past five years.

JOCKEYS TO FOLLOW

George Baker
The king of the Polytrack. Punters backing his mounts have shown a massive level-stakes profit (over £250 to a £1 stake) at Lingfield, Kempton and Wolverhampton in the past five years. Best known for his patient riding style, he is an infrequent visitor to Southwell but has a predictably poor record when he does make the journey to Lincolnshire. He has not had enough rides to form any strong views of him at Great Leighs, but there is no reason why he should not excel there.

Neil Callan
Has a similar record to Baker, in that he has a terrific record on Polytrack, although he is most worth following at Lingfield and Wolverhampton. As with most of the top jockeys, he shows a heavy level-stakes loss on his rides at Southwell.

Stephen Donohoe - Has provided his supporters with a level-stakes profit at Lingfield and Kempton over the past five years and has a good strike-rate so far at Great Leighs.

Luke Morris
An up-and-coming young rider, he has shown a healthy profit over the past five years at Kempton and Lingfield, while he has also made a good start at Great Leighs.

Graham Gibbons
A rare visitor to the southern all-weather tracks and his favoured hold-up style of riding does not suit Southwell, where it pays to race prominently. Well worth following at Wolverhampton, though, where he has shown a profit of more than £80 to a £1 stake in the past five years