All Weather weekly round-up, including eyecatchers and Lingfield track bias

You might find this hard to believe, but I was once accused of lacking direction, told I needed to set myself targets and try and meet some goals. Can you believe that? A young man, spending all of his time watching racing, cricket and snooker, frequenting some of the worst pubs in Yorkshire of a weekend, but apparently lacking direction.

Things are different now, though, and I’ve set myself another big target before the winter is out: to find out just why jockeys continue to head for the far side rail at Lingfield when the option of coming down the middle is there.

I know that for people of the racing media to criticise jockeys is something to akin to sacrilege – in stark contrast to other professional sports, such as football and cricket, where viewers will watch in anticipation, popcorn at the ready, to hear Roy Keane set off on one of his famous, but now all too predictable, rants about certain players or managers.

I’ve always struggled to understand why racing professionals are any different and I firmly believe that if we want to attract a wider audience, race analysis probably needs to be a bit more balanced than it is currently.

I’m not for a minute suggesting the largely impressive TV and written pundits we have at present should suddenly turn into Keane – I could hardly think of anything worse – but I’ll be the first to admit that I’m often guilty of lauding a brilliant ride from Colin Keane, while being less inclined to point out the rare occasion when he might have got things wrong.

If we’re serious about making accurate race analysis, and ultimately backing winners, we had better be prepared to say the hard things occasionally and not always take the easy route.

For instance, I thought Kodiac Harbour was given a largely brilliant ride from Kieran Shoemark at Lingfield on Wednesday, dictating the pace from the front and kicking clear approaching the final turn with what looked to be a race-winning move.

In the end, Kodiac Harbour just ran out of steam late on and was collared by a fast-finisher on his outside, but I do wonder if Shoemark might look back and think he’d have been better off shunning the fair side rail on entering the home straight in favour of coming down the centre of the track.

Shoemark actually made amends in the very next race, coming wide and late to guide Elegant Love to victory in a finish that was so stereotypical of Lingfield. In a game of fine margins, finding the best ground can be the difference between winning and losing on these circuits.

All day, and seemingly all winter, the majority of winners at Lingfield came down the middle, while those on their inside appeared to find the surface riding slower by the rail. It isn’t always the case but, by and large, outside appears best at the Surrey venue.

I am very happy to stand corrected on this point, and will make it an aim of mine to speak to Flat jockeys past and present this winter to get their take on the track at Lingfield and whether the argument has any strength.

Perhaps those opting to stick to the far side are, in fact, saving ground and giving their horses just as good a chance as if they had opted to come wider.

Furthermore, I accept that race-riding isn’t that simple and, more often than not, jockeys are forced to take whatever path is afforded to them, not just pick and choose as they please.

Still, until I’m told differently, I remain convinced that Kodiac Harbour really ought to have won on Wednesday, while I thought Marion’s Boy took another step forward when just losing out to course specialist Fame N Fortune earlier on the card. Both should be going in again soon.

I’d be less complimentary about notebook horse Stay Classy, who had the race run to suit when finishing second in the fillies' handicap on the same card.

Having watched this well-handicapped mare drift to 11/2 and then mount what promised to be a strong challenge approaching the final furlong, I wasn’t too impressed with her finishing effort considering she has plenty of solid form over further. The jury is out with her now.

Super-sire Dubawi at it again

Over at Kempton, the eagerly anticipated debut of Highland Avenue didn’t go to plan as he was turned over at short odds. He was learning on the job and this son of Dubawi, who is out of former Cheveley Park heroine Lumiere, is certain to do better in time.

On the subject of Dubawi, this quite brilliant sire had another winner on Monday when Tomouh landed a novice stakes at Wolverhampton in good style.

That was only the second start of the three-year-old’s career but he displayed a really good attitude when badly snatched up when mounting his challenge, before renewing his effort and scoring with something to spare. He is crying out for further than seven furlongs and I’ll be interested to see what mark he gets.

Finally, you might recall from my first column a few weeks back that two-year-old Under Wraps went into My Stable following an encouraging debut effort at Lingfield.

The Kingman filly has three entries spread between Lingfield and Kempton on Wednesday and I suspect trainer John Gosden is keen to get a win next to her name before the end of the calendar year.

• All Weather Weekly: December 3
• All Weather Weekly: November 27