For Southwell 7/12/2021

Southwell on Tuesday

After a bit of a delay on the original date for racing to commence Southwell all weather racing is back on Wednesday.  Although it may feel like the course has been missing for some time it only closed the all-weather track to racing on August the 15th. The last race on the old surface was won by Billy Garritty riding Lord Torranaga for Philip Kirby returning 12/1.

Since the racing stopped Arena Racing Company have been very busy indeed. They removed the old fibre sand surface and replaced it with tapeta. A lot of the fibre sand was recycled by giving it to trainers. A delay was caused by a lack of lorries and materials but generally everything went smoothly. The course will be having its first meeting on the new surface on Wednesday.

The track surface is now tapeta which gives only a small amount of kickback compared to a surface like fibre sand as long as it is spread out correctly and not to deep. Tapeta is a mix of silica sand, wax and fibres that simulates a turf surface.  In the old days jockeys used to avoid running right next to the rail at Southwell due to fibre sand drifting to the edges and making a deeper surface.  I don’t think this will be an issue with the tapeta.

To the uninitiated there might not seem like there is much difference maintaining tapeta compared to fibre sand but it is a different surface which requires its own type of specialised care. The team on course will have spent a lot of time studying and learning and a team of experts have been working closely with Arena Racing Company to produce the best surface and will be with them until after the first meeting. The company owns Newcastle and Wolverhampton which both have a tapeta surface so there will be plenty of help and assistance available to the team at Southwell to aid them in the coming months.

A small part of me feels sorry for the clerk of the course.  I can imagine him stood with his dog, they always have a dog, it’s part of the job description, looking out over the perfect course having a zen moment and then realising a bunch of inconsiderate equine enthusiasts are going to churn up the surface something rotten!

I do not think anybody is going to miss the old surface too much.  Whilst popular amongst a small group of punters who notably did not have to ride on the stuff it was generally disliked by trainers (who were polite), jockeys (who were less polite) and horses who, whilst remaining silent on the issue, spat out a lot of sand. It is also possible the local fox population may miss it but nature adapts!

The question is I guess, how the new surface will run.  From what I have read and observed over the years Tapeta runs a bit faster than fibre sand, but not quite as fast as polytrack. This means there will be a little less of an emphasis on stamina and a little more on speed.  To start with the Tapeta is likely to run slower than it will eventually settle down to be as the course team gets used the specialised course requirements. 

Kickback is a major issue in a race.  This is the amount of material that is thrown up behind a horse travelling at speed. Jockeys often dismounted on the old track looking like they had been sand blasted. Tapeta offers substantially less kickback then fibre sand.

Several things occur when riding in to the kickback.  Vision will be obscured meaning inexperienced horses could become unsettled and riders will be less able to spot opportunity.  The riders obviously wear googles but the horses have no eye protection and find it harder to see what’s going on and have to rely on the jockey more.

Breathing becomes an issue and the riders wear masks but again the horses do not and any breathing problems not yet addressed by tongue ties or wind operations can become even more troublesome in these conditions.

Impact discomfort is a real issue for a horse tracking another. Imagine sand being blown at you at 35mph for a few seconds. Now imagine it lasting for over a minute and you begin to get the picture.

The lack of kickback will benefit the hold-up horses as they will have to deal with less of the afore mentioned issues and will be able to settle in to the pack and make their runs.  Oddly there is a loser in regard to the new surface.  Horses that like to make all or hang just off the leader will have less of an advantage due to the fact that they will be spraying less kickback behind them and therefore will be troubling the following horses less.

The previous draw bias (post position) may be useful as a guide but will no longer be the real deal which needs to be taken in to consideration when using it to help you choose your selections.  Certain aspects of the draw have not changed such as the distance to the first turn and the width of the track. Just as the draw on a turf course may change slightly in regard to the weather the racecourse will now run differently because of the tapeta.  The tapeta will allow the horses to act in a different manner at the start of the race compared to previously.  Theoretically there should be less of an emphasis on leading which would mean the riders travel different paths over the opening furlong or two compared to before.

Due to the change of surface we will start to see better quality horses entering races and top trainers seeing the racecourse as more of a viable option for a run.

The long and short of it all is Southwell all weather racing returns to us again as an upgraded and exciting prospect.  Having another operational all-weather track is vital for the winter months. Once the weather starts to decline and meetings get called off the all-weather will still be providing entertainment for thousands of people worldwide.

Lots of people will be trying to decide if Charlie Appleby’s horses can make the grade in the opening meeting. It’s a harder choice than normal as his yard is out of form currently.

In the first race he runs Toromona. The wide draw will not be a disadvantage to a rider with James Doyle’s experience and the gelding always gets out well. He has been favourably treated by the handicapper having 7lb deducted from his initial assessment. He is a half-brother by the same dam to Silver River who won two class 5 novice events on the all-weather over 1m4f. He is being backed and should go well. The price available with Bet365 is best odds and the best I can see but I would have preferred to get an each way price.

Yantarni is next up for the Godolphin trainer. His price is very short for a horse who has never won and is probably being driven to such depths by the Charlie Effect. Lots of people like to bet on Charlie’s horses and it drives down the price.  I follow Charlie Appleby selectively and manage to remain in profit but betting every runner is a route to the poor house. Therefore I have to make difficult decisions to outrun the bookie. Even though he could potentially win he reared at the start last time and was slowly away the time before. He is likely to welcome the drop back in trip. He could well win but I cannot recommend him at the price.  I would want at least 1/1 – 5/4.

My tip is: Win Toromona 4/1 Bet365 BOG

On an amusing note to end I called Southwell: South-Well for years until one day an amused punter corrected my pronunciation to: Suth-ul.

Good luck ladies and gentlemen.