All Weather Racing

To make the game pay on the UK’s all-weather circuits, you need to understand how races at the four respective tracks – Lingfield, Kempton, Southwell and Wolverhampton - are likely to unfold. Each surface has its own characteristics, which can influence the result. Here, all-weather expert Simon Mapletoft gives you an insight into the nuances of each track.

LINGFIELD

Beware of the draw bias over certain trips on this Polytrack surface. Stalls 1-5 have a distinct advantage over those drawn 6-10 in 5f and 6f sprints. However, over 6f stall 1 has a markedly poor record so shorter-priced favourites are often worth opposing. Horses drawn against the fence have to commit from the gates and keep up a relentless gallop to succeed.

Front runners who get a slingshot off the home turn in sprint races can be tough to overcome, but more often than not this track favours closers, which makes it arguably the toughest of all four courses for those who play in-running.

In races over 7f and further, preference can be given to those drawn middle to high, though the statistics tell us that those racing prominently from stalls 1 and 2 have a good strike rate over 1m and 1m2f.

Fancied runners forced to swing wide off the home turn over any trip lose vital ground at the most crucial stage of the race and it can pay to lay them in-running. Conversely, closers travelling strongly against the fence can often enjoy a dream passage whenever the field fans out wide off the turn.

KEMPTON

Kempton’s Polytrack circuit is the only domestic right-handed all-weather track, and races take place over an inner and outer loop. The inner loop is used for 5f and 1m2f races only, with all other races – up to 2m - run over the outer course.

Runners in 5f sprints encounter two sharp bends, with a home straight of less than 2f. Horses drawn low usually struggle get competitive so taking on the fancied runners can be a profitable strategy.

Races over 6f and further unfold with a marked difference. Most of these take place around the outer loop, giving horses and jockeys have the benefit of a longer straight. Often hold-up horses prevail as the cut-away rail offers more racing room. The complexion of 6f races changes dramatically inside the final quarter and closers who are played late have much better prospects, which can lead to in-running upsets.

Front runners at Kempton and Lingfield are invariably more vulnerable than those at Southwell and Wolverhampton: a point to consider when playing in-running or laying fancied horses with that running style.

SOUTHWELL

In races over the straight 5f, early pace is a pre-requisite on the Fibresand, regardless of the draw. When shortlisting sprinters, identify those horses who have the ability to break well and travel prominently through the early fractions.

In 6f races, horses drawn low have a definite edge. Over this trip, runners from the wide gates can struggle to get competitive, while stall 1 can be the death knell for a horse that breaks slowly.

Horses racing from the middle to high gates have a much better record over 7f and beyond. Jockeys have time to establish a favourable position before the first bend.

Front runners at this track can be hard to peg back, just like those that take up the running inside the final quarter - an important factor for in-running punters.

Horses making their all-weather debuts on this surface are more likely to disappoint than on Polytrack, as the kick-back (dirt flung up from other horses’ hooves) is more severe and many newcomers refuse to run into it. Southwell is also the closest to America’s dirt tracks, where early speed and the ability to travel strongly through the early fractions are more critical.

WOLVERHAMPTON

In sprints on this Polytrack surface, stall 1 is the plum berth for a horse that is sharp from the gates, but those drawn wide over 5f and 6f are at a distinct disadvantage. That’s not to say that horses can’t win from the ‘car park’. Those who do overcome stalls 12 and 13 are invariably strong travellers who get some luck in-running.

The first bend is only a short distance from the 7f start, so those drawn low have the benefit of achieving an ideal early position. High draws over 7f are often as bad as those over sprint trips.

Betting in-running is generally more predictable at this track than at Kempton and Lingfield, as runners hitting the front inside the final furlong can be difficult to pass. Laying fancied runners from gates 12 and 13 over 5f is usually a profitable tactic here.

Note that the camera angle at this track can be the most deceptive of all four when it comes to judging the outcome of close finishes.