Winning Post-1800m: as per usual this is the wettest part of the track. Lanes 3 and 4 are in the heavy '9-10' range particularly where the horses are pulling up. It’s a slow-speed area and only horses in the 2500m race will run through this section so it won't have a big impact.
1800m-1200m: good length of grass with general wear across the majority of the racing surface. Walks slightly faster against the rail in lane 1. Feels like a '7.5' under foot but with a relatively sunny forecast and a bit of breeze around it should be a 7 by race day.
1200m-800m: the grass has been left quite long here as well. Thought the inside was still slightly better than lanes 3 and beyond but if the rain has stopped it will even out in the next 24 hours. Rain on race day probably means the inside will hold up better as it did last meeting here. Walks an '8', lean towards the inside two lanes slightly.
800m-400m: hard going in the longer grass. I’d want to stick to fit horses as the ground doesn’t walk fast and will be a good test of stamina. Expecting the two inside lanes to hold up well as they did last meeting. They'll mark it as the day goes on but I think it will handle racing well. Walks in the '8' range also.
400m-Winning Post: slightly more sandfill across lanes 1 and 2 in this section. Not as big a difference between the fence and wider lanes here, walks quite even. Won’t surprise me to see a few winning in the wider lanes in this section. Walks just in the '8' range but improvement to come if no more rain.
Verdict: A bit like the last meeting here (rail was True) I think the inside lanes will race better than usual on a rain-affected surface. I think between the 1200m and the 400m the inside two lanes are an advantage but I think the straight is quite even. Expecting a fair surface, but don't be afraid to back horses that map on the rail or close to it. I've done the form for a track that sits just on the better side of a Heavy 8.
Minella Bloodstock, A T Maloney, Ms N Rantanen Reynolds, D G Reynolds, R A J Lawrie, Mrs M Lawrie, Mrs M J Cross, T J Cross, Mrs J Koster, Mrs W J Koster, Howell Enterprises, N W Highdale, S G Thornton, Mrs H J Tucker, W W Tucker ,R Buckley B Heffernan, D Heffernan, K A Perry & Fire up for Cups
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