01 All Weather Racing / Betfair Education / 18 March 2008 / Leave a comment

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.