Few complaints over Lingfield's track

It is on days like these that punters, who cannot do without their daily racing fix, get out of bed into a frosty world thanking their lucky stars for all-weather racing.

Wolverhampton could come to the rescue again today as clerks of the courses try to poke their sticks into rock-hard turf in inspections at Cheltenham and Warwick after Catterick and Fontwell were knocked out by frost.

So now is, perhaps, a good time to revue just how the revolutionary £3m Polytrack surface at Lingfield has been shaping in its first season of operation.

It has to be said that it has acquitted itself well and has not had a bad word said about it up until now. But it will take some time before punters and jockeys get the hang of it properly.

For instance, it has been noticeable that horses attempting to make all the running on the new base, seldom manage it. This was highlighted in the seven furlong maiden event last Friday when five horses scooted clear before the straight but then seemed to fold-up. The pre-Polytrack days would probably have seen them extend their advantage over their rivals and fight out the finish between them. The track is tough.

Also, those handy types who rail like greyhounds, could be guaranteed to hold-on if they hit the last bend in front. Now there are far more winners coming from the back and more thrilling finishes are a result. However, things can always be improved with a little tweak here and there, and one matter is the mile-and-twofurlongs start which is almost in front of the stands. Jockeys wanting a good position hit the gates hard and head for the clubhouse turn which is not a long time coming. As a result, several runners are going hell-for-leather as the bend arrives, necessitating a sharpish left-turn up the hill. The can put a lot of strain on the horses, with back problems the possible outcome.