IN my time as Chair of the Horseracing Bettors Forum, which sought to represent the interests of punters within British racing, one of the complaints from the public which came up time and again was about the official description of going.

It can be debated just how healthy it is for a Clerk of the Course to mark their own homework when they have a vested interest in attracting runners, but in the absence of an independent assessment they need to be careful not to be far out when they do.